California lawmakers propose reforms to regain public trust

By Fenit Nirappil
Published April 7, 2014 4:00am ET
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California lawmakers propose reforms to regain public trust
State Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, left, speaks on a bill, while his seat mate Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, works at his desk at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. In the wake the recent indictments of Yee and Calderon on federal corruption charges lawmakers are proposing to strengthen political ethics and reform campaign finance laws.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, file) | Rich Pedroncelli

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A series of scandals that has tarnished the integrity of the state Legislature has prompted a wave of proposals aimed at strengthening political ethics and reforming laws governing campaign contributions.

So far this year, a prominent lobbyist was slapped with a record fine for illegally throwing lavish fundraisers for top elected officials at his home, Democratic Sen. Rod Wright was convicted for lying about living inside his district, and federal corruption charges have been filed against two other Democrats, Sens. Ron Calderon of Montebello and Leland Yee of San Francisco.

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