Gov. Jerry Brown rakes in $4 million for Prop. 30
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Gov. Jerry Brown may have just rejoined the campaign trail for Proposition 30 this week, but campaign finance filings indicate he’s been busy dialing for dollars this month.
The governor’s tax initiative has raked in more than $4 million since Oct. 1, state records show.
Reed Hastings, the founder of Netflix, was the single-largest contributor, writing a $1-million check. The Service Employees International Union and its affiliates also gave $1 million.
Likewise, business backers kicked in for Proposition 30, which would levy a four-year, quarter-cent rise in the state sales tax and a seven-year hike in income tax rates for those who make more than $250,000.
VOTER GUIDE: 2012 California Propositions
Among the biggest contributors was Sierra Pacific Industries, the state’s largest timber company. Brown signed industry-backed legislation last month that limits timber companies’ liability for legal damages in cases of wildfires caused by their practices, restricting how much government agencies could sue for negligence. Last week, Sierra Pacific wrote a $100,000 check to the tax campaign.
Other notables include U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who gave $25,000.
Hollywood ponied up in recent weeks as well.
According to state records, Dreamworks SKG founders Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen each gave $33,333 to Proposition 30.
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--Michael J. Mishak in Sacramento
Associated Press