City officials want to bring a little clarity to the rules dictating campaign contributions and expenditures. The council ratified an ordinance that adds new language to an existing code about campaign finances, stressing in it that regulations are not meant to restrict free speech. The verbiage was inserted into a section about limits on campaign contributions,which restricts donations to $250 to any candidate or committee for a candidate or measure during a given election year.
The new wording states, “This section shall not be interpreted or applied to violate the right of association or the right to express views through expenditures. Rather, it is intended to be and shall be applied solely as a limit on campaign contributions to individuals and committees.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 18, 2008. Read the original PDF.