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Out-of-State Money Dominates Four California Ballot Campaigns

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The Pfizer headquarters in New York City stands in the heart of Manhattan's business district on Oct. 29, 2015. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images))

Four state ballot measure campaigns have each received more than 75 percent of their funding from individuals and groups outside California, according to a MapLight analysis.

Drug companies and a pharmaceutical industry trade association based outside the state have provided 86 percent of the $109 million raised to defeat Proposition 61. The measure would limit the price California pays for prescription drugs. Two New York-based pharmaceutical firms, Pfizer and Merck, and New Jersey-based Johnson & Johnson have each contributed more than $9 million.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which is based in Los Angeles, has provided $16.7 million of the nearly $17 million raised for Proposition 61. The California Nurses Association has given $56,000.

Plastic bag and other plastics manufacturers outside California have contributed 99 percent of the money raised -- over $6 million -- against Proposition 67 and for Proposition 65. Proposition 67 would ban the use of plastic bags; Proposition 65 would direct proceeds from the sale of carryout bags to a state-run environmental fund, a move opposed by grocers and environmental groups.

Supporters of Proposition 67 have raised over $1.8 million; more than 80 percent of that money has come from individuals and groups in the state, including environmental organizations and the California Grocers Association. Proposition 65 has no financial opposition.

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While Californians have provided nearly 60 percent of the $24 million raised to support Proposition 64, a measure that would legalize marijuana use, the No campaign has relied heavily on out-of-state contributions. One person -- Julie Schauer, a Pennsylvania retiree -- has given almost $1.4 million to fight the initiative. Contributions from outside California make up 85 percent of the $1.6 million raised to defeat the measure.

Methodology: MapLight analysis of contributions to committees supporting or opposing ballot measures using data available from the California Secretary of State as of Nov. 2, 2016. Campaigns were identified using contributions since Jan. 1, 2015, and the analysis includes any contributions given during the full time that the related committees were active, excluding contributions between allied committees. Searchable contributions data is available on Power Search.

About MapLight
MapLight is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that tracks money in politics. More information about MapLight can be found here.

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