A. Jerrold "Jerry" Perenchio, former chair of the largest Spanish-language media company in the United States, has donated $1.5 million to back two May special election measures.
Perenchio's donated the money to the Budget Reform Now committee, which calls for "yes" votes on Propositions 1A and 1C.
Proposition 1A would impose state spending restrictions, establish a "rainy day" fund for budget shortages and extend tax increases for two years. Proposition 1C allows the state to borrow $5 billion against future profits of a revamped state lottery.
It is the second time that Perenchio, former head of Univision Communications Inc., has spent big bucks to help the ballot agenda of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2005, he donated $1.5 million to back Schwarzenegger special election initiatives, including measures to change how legislative districts are drawn and how teachers are awarded tenure. The governor's initiatives all lost.
In 1998, Perenchio donated $1.5 million as key financial backer in the campaign to defeat Proposition 227. The measure dismantling California's system of bilingual education won handily.
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