FPPC 2019 Annual Report shows record number of Enforcement cases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2020
For More Information Contact:
Jay Wierenga (916) 322-7761
The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), California’s governmental ethics and campaign disclosure agency, released its 2019 Annual Report which shows a record 343 Enforcement cases with penalties approved by the Commission, and total penalties reaching almost $800,000 dollars. The previous high was 2017 with 340 Commission approved cases with penalties. In total, the Commission successfully resolved a total of 1,465 Enforcement cases in 2019.
“I’m extremely proud of the work done by our Enforcement Division to make sure those who aren’t following the rules are held accountable, so the public knows there’s a price to pay for not adhering to the law,” said FPPC Chair Richard C. Miadich. “At a time of great skepticism about politics, we diligently work daily to make sure there’s a level playing field for campaigns and that public officials are held to the highest standards possible.”
In addition to the Enforcement figures, the FPPC Annual Report also highlights the work done to educate the regulated community and the public about the law in order to promote compliance. The FPPC Legal Division handled more than 14,000 emails and phone calls for advice, with another 255 formal Advice Letters issued to public officials who had questions about their responsibilities under the Political Reform Act. FPPC staff also conducted 44 workshops around the State to bring training and understanding to local filing officers, and those who are involved in various political campaigns.
“Our goal is to always promote and gain compliance with the Act rather than to have to play enforcer,” said Chair Miadich. “We are looking at even more ways to be pro-active in the 2020 election year with workshops, webinars, and new transparency tools to provide the public to see even more of the information they’re entitled to.”
A link to the full report can be found here.
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