Thread by @LaurelRosenhall

Before CA lawmakers granted prison guards a $5k bonus & an 8% raise over the next 2 years, the guards’ union made a few charitable donations.

Recipients included two nonprofits run by the very legislators who were preparing to vote on the pay hikes.
calmatters.org/politics/2021/…

This week, political watchdog @CA_FPPC is considering new rules that would require more disclosure in certain cases when officials ask interest groups to give $$ to nonprofits. fppc.ca.gov/about-fppc/hea…
It comes after this investigation I did last year:
calmatters.org/projects/calif…

Since then my talented press corps colleagues have also dug into the rise of donations to politically-connected nonprofits by interest groups that lobby at the Capitol.

@hannahcwiley looked at donations to nonprofits tied to the Speaker's wife
sacbee.com/news/politics-…

@SophiaBollag examined donations to nonprofits run by Gov. Newsom's wife:
sacbee.com/news/politics-…

@MelodyGutierrez documented the explosion of nonprofit donations Newsom sought during the pandemic
latimes.com/california/sto…

And uncovered a $1 mil donation whose original source was hidden by use of a "donor advised fund"
latimes.com/california/sto…

Charitable donations flowing through donor advised funds is another topic @CA_FPPC is discussing on Thursday
fppc.ca.gov/about-fppc/hea…

A couple updates since my investigation last year:

AG Rob Bonta has stepped down from the board of his foundation, and it made new rules banning donations to groups that employ his wife Mia Bonta, an Assembly candidate.

Backstory: calmatters.org/projects/calif…

Political watchdog @CA_FPPC still has not completed its investigation of Assemblyman Evan Low's fundraising practices, launched after I reported that donations to the tech caucus foundation were being kept secret.

Backstory: calmatters.org/projects/state…