Feb 3 - Plastic Bag Companies Spent Nearly $3.3 Million on Referendum Campaign to Repeal Bag Ban (Press Release)

Submitted by Recycling News on February 3, 2015 - 15:33.

Contact: Steven Maviglio, 916-607-8340

PLASTIC BAG COMPANIES SPENT NEARLY $3.3 MILLION ON REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN TO REPEAL BAG BAN
97.9% OF FUNDS FROM OUT OF STATE, SECRETARY OF STATE RECORDS SHOW

SACRAMENTO, CA – Plastic bag companies have raised more than $3,346,000 and spent $3,266,679 in their attempt to put a repeal of California’s plastic bag ban on the ballot, outspending bill supporters by more than 25-1.

According to reports filed yesterday with the Secretary of State, 97.9 percent of the funds for the effort are from companies from outside of California. All donations to the effort are from corporations; not a single California citizen has contributed to the campaign.

“This attempt to hijack California’s political process and attempt to repeal a law enacted by the Legislature, signed by the Governor, and supported by wide margins of Californians by out-of-state corporations is simply outrageous,” said Mark Murray of California vs. Big Plastic, the committee opposing the repeal. “Californians have a long tradition of rejecting special interest ballot measures bankrolled by out-of-state corporations. We are confident they will do the same in November 2016.”

Of the plastic companies expenditures, $2,930,362 went to National Petition Management of Roseville, which conducted the signature collection campaign for the out-of-state plastic companies. Their efforts are the subject of a complaint filed with Attorney General Kamala Harris over deceptive efforts to garner signatures.

The American Progressive Bag Alliance, the plastic bag industry’s campaign committee, reported having $177,659 cash on hand on December 31, 2014. A campaign to repeal the law, which is expected to be on the November 2016 ballot after certification later this month, is estimated to cost approximately $30 million.

California vs. Big Plastic has raised $49,500 and spent $129,732, according to the reports. It is available here.