They are Democrats, yet their votes in the Capitol have helped big business continue fracking in California and defeat a bill dictating pay and benefit levels for Wal-Mart workers.
As California’s Republican Party shrinks, the influence of moderate Democrats in the Capitol is growing. But pinning down exactly who belongs to the group is not easy.
Unlike caucuses organized around political parties or ethnic identity the so-called moderate caucus has no government-paid staff and the group is not officially recognized by the Legislature.
“The question I always get when I go give speeches about the mods is, ‘Who are you guys? Is there a website? A roster?’ ” said Assemblyman Henry Perea, the Fresno Democrat who leads the loosely defined caucus. “The answer is ‘no.’ ”
Instead, the center of operations is an art-filled office in midtown Sacramento, where two political entrepreneurs have created a hub that fosters ties among major corporations – including energy companies, drugmakers and insurers – and lawmakers who cast swing votes affecting the industries’ bottom lines. These business-friendly Democrats can serve as a balancing influence against the liberal wing of their party and its historic ties to environmentalists, trial lawyers, and unions.
The two consultants – David Townsend and Chris Tapio – have created a multifaceted operation in their I Street office to build the moderate caucus. They work behind the scenes to raise money from corporate interests, pour it into political campaigns and run an industry-funded nonprofit group that pays for “policy retreats” on business issues. Together, they serve as the fundraising and policy arms of the Legislature’s moderate caucus.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/04/27/6356478/big-business-channels-money-to.html
