Hilton blasted Los Angeles‘ system as “legalized thievery” and used it to urge California voters to reject Proposition 4, a November ballot measure that would allow state and local governments to establish public campaign financing programs. The measure would not automatically expand Los Angeles’ 6-to-1 system statewide.
Proposition 4 would not itself establish a statewide 6-to-1 matching program. Instead, it would repeal California’s current prohibition on the use of public funds for campaign financing and allow state and local governments to establish such programs under specified restrictions.
The video shows a clip of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaking outdoors while holding a microphone. In the footage, she says, “Every qualified donation from Los Angeles residents is matched 6 to 1 by the city.”
It then cuts to Steve Hilton as he responds: “It’s not the city; it’s taxpayers. They have endlessly increased taxes in LA. And now she’s taking your money for her pathetic political campaigns. Well, guess what, that is now coming statewide because of the corrupt scumbags here who want to take your tax money to fund their campaigns thanks to Proposition 4. Absolutely outrageous. No on Prop 4.” The clip concludes with on-screen text reading “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” followed by a graphic promoting Hilton for governor.
According to Hilton’s post, the matching arrangement means “$1 donated to Karen Bass = $6 STOLEN from taxpayers,” his characterization of the public matching funds provided through Los Angeles’ existing campaign-finance program. He used the comparison to urge voters to reject Proposition 4.
Online Takes on the Taxpayer Campaign Video
Hilton’s post drew plenty of agreement from users responding to his criticism of the system. Some questioned how public campaign financing could be allowed, writing, “How is this even allowed?” and “No way this is legal!” However, Los Angeles’ matching-funds program is an established public campaign-financing system, and those reactions do not establish that Bass or the city violated the law by participating in it.
Others criticized the use of taxpayer money for political campaigns. “Unbelievable. A mayor can openly rob taxpayers’ $,” one commenter wrote. Another focused on what residents might rather see public money spent on: “Six to one is the part nobody explains at the town hall. Taxpayers fund the campaign, then get told there is no money for the streets.”
California voters will decide Proposition 4 on November 3. A “yes” vote would allow state and local governments to establish public campaign financing programs under specified restrictions, while a “no” vote would maintain the current prohibition for the state and most local governments.
