Days after launching his campaign for attorney general, Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico is proposing a crackdown on the Legislature he will be termed out of next year.
The Newark Democrat announced legislation Wednesday that would require lawmakers to pass a state budget by June 15 each year or permanently lose their $173-per-day payment for living expenses until they send the governor a spending plan.
The measure, Assembly Bill 1411, also would bar campaign fundraising after June 15 until a state budget is passed.
"These are steps to change the public's perception of the Capitol's culture," Torrico said in a written statement. "The reforms I am proposing will give Californians a stronger sense that we are looking out for the public's interest."
In a separate bill, Assembly Bill 1412, Torrico proposes to bar lobbyists, lobbying firms or lobbyist employers from giving any gift to state lawmakers.
Currently lobbyists and lobbying firms can give each lawmaker a gift costing up to $10 per month, while lobbyist employers can spend more, up to $420 per year for a legislator's gift, according to Roman Porter, executive director of the Fair Political Practices Commission.
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