Campaign Money Tracking Bill Signed

Legislation making it easier for the public and press to keep track of independent campaign expenditures has been signed into law by Governor Gray Davis. The bill by state Senator Ross Johnson of Irvine requires the secretary of state´s Web site to link independent expenditures to the candidates or ballot measures they are designed to help or hurt. Independent expenditures are just that, campaign money spent to help or defeat a candidate or ballot measure without coordinating the spending with a candidate or ballot measure committee. The use of independent expenditures has skyrocketed since voters put limits on campaign contributions to state candidates in November 2000. Independent expenditures aren´t covered by the limits.