Why Money Is Important

SACRAMENTO —  Seventy years ago, another Austrian ruled California. His name was Arthur Samish, the son of an immigrant who became the most powerful lobbyist in state history. At 300 pounds, the outsized man was master of leveraging campaign contributions and personal favors for the oil, movie studio, insurance and tobacco industries.

This year proved that little has changed -- California politics remains dominated by money.

The 2006 election set another record in political spending -- cash poured in from oil and tobacco companies, powerful unions, millionaires and corporate donors. They unloaded more than $600 million to finance the governor’s race, the “down-ballot” contests, a host of initiatives, state legislative and congressional races, the Democratic and Republican parties, and various front groups.

Elected officials say donations don’t influence their votes. They frequently quote Jesse M. Unruh, the legendary former Assembly speaker, who said: “If you can’t take their money, drink their booze, eat their food, screw their women and vote against them, you don’t belong here.”

Campaign donations are only a part of the picture. Unions, corporations, local governments and others spent $230 million last year lobbying legislators, the Schwarzenegger administration and other officials, often for chunks of California’s $132 billion state budget.

Construction companies want to build public works projects. Schools seek more state money. Doctors and dentists want more reimbursement for seeing poor patients.

In Sacramento, all money is political. Which makes another quote from Unruh especially apt: “Money is the mother’s milk of politics.”