Channels of influence

The role of money in California politics is unrelenting.

Interest groups with deep pockets line the campaign accounts of candidates, parties and political committees in order to advance their agenda and elect candidates who view the world from their perspective. Hundreds of millions of dollars flow into California politics each election cycle through these channels.

It bears mentioning that this massive stream of cash is donated quite deliberately. The men and women who serve as consultants, strategists and advisers for these interest groups are generally a savvy and sophisticated bunch, who plot their donation strategy based on an experience-borne belief that giving–or in some cases not giving–will help their clients achieve their objectives.

In other words, they give because they get