Between July and October final yr, Google spent $120,000 on lobbying California’s authorities. In those self same three months this yr, the tech large put in much more — $10.7 million.
The large distinction? The Legislature was debating a main invoice with direct influence on Google’s backside line — a media funding proposal — clarify CalMatters Capitol reporter Alexei Koseff and knowledge reporter Jeremia Kimelman.
The measure would have required giant on-line platforms that scrape or hyperlink to information tales to pay an annual payment with the media retailers that produce that content material. The invoice’s writer, Democratic Assemblymember Buffy Wicks of Oakland, ended up shelving the proposaland in August introduced a deal that concerned Google offering $55 million for 5 years to assist fund native newsrooms.
In response to lobbying disclosure studies, the tech large funneled roughly $9.75 million to 2 trade teams that ran TV and social media advertisements opposing Wick’s invoice and one other journalism funding measure carried by state Sen. Steve Glazer.
- Glazeran Orinda Democrat: “Their spending was a reflection of the cheaper alternative.”
Google’s spending far exceeded different tech corporations that will have additionally been coated by the Wicks invoice. Meta, for instance, spent almost $366,000 on lobbying throughout the identical time interval. Marketing campaign finance disclosures additionally present Google giving a complete of $107,500 to 39 lawmakers, together with Wicks, plus Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis on sooner or later in September.
Be taught extra about Google’s lobbying bills in Alexei and Jeremia’s story.
Labor spending spree: The union representing College of California service and affected person care staff spent $1.2 million opposing a weak Democratic incumbentdrawing ire from leaders of a celebration carefully allied with labor.
As CalMatters Digital Democracy reporter Ryan Sabalow explains, state Sen. Josh Newman of Fullerton is in a good race with Republican Steven Choi, a former Assemblymember and Irvine Mayor. As of Tuesday night, Newman was trailing by 2.2 share factors.
Within the March main and November election campaigns, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers Native 3299 opposed Newman — donating to his challengers and funding TV advertisements and marketing campaign fliers.
Newman says it’s as a result of final yr he helped kill a invoicesponsored by the union, that will have amended the state structure to require the college system to adjust to primary labor requirements. (The native, because it additionally occurs, plans to go on strike subsequent week.) Newman referred to as the union’s marketing campaign spending “a disservice to their members and to the labor movement,” however his Senate colleagues have been extra vocal of their criticism.
- Senate President Professional Tem Mike McGuire of Santa Rosa: “Instead of spending time, effort and energy helping Democrats win congressional races, they supported a supporter of Donald Trump. … It’s unconscionable what they did.”
Learn extra about Newman’s race and the union in Ryan’s story.
