Say No to Dark Money: Demand Transparency in Lobbying
California Legislature
Special interests spent a record-breaking $540 million lobbying California lawmakers in 2024 — the most ever reported in a single year. And if we don’t act, ordinary Californians will pay the price.
Oil companies, tech giants, and utility corporations led the charge. Google spent more on state lobbying in 2024 than in the past two decades combined, while the oil industry’s top trade group doubled its spending as lawmakers considered new regulations.
These special interests weren’t just spending for show— they got their way more than 60% of the time.
This isn’t how democracy is supposed to work, where the wealthiest voices get heard, and everyone else is left out of the room.
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To:
California Legislature
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[Your Name]
In 2024, special interests spent a record-breaking $540 million lobbying state lawmakers — the most ever reported in California history. This kind of spending threatens the integrity of our democracy, giving wealthy corporations an outsized voice in shaping our laws while everyday Californians are left behind.
We are calling on you to:
Reject any proposals that weaken California’s transparency and disclosure laws
Strengthen lobbying disclosure rules to ensure the public knows who is influencing policy decisions
Support reforms that reduce the influence of dark money and hold powerful interests accountable
The people of California deserve a government that works for us — not just for the wealthiest and most powerful. We urge you to stand up for transparency, accountability, and a democracy that puts the public interest first.