IGA Legal Counsel: Thomas Hiltachk
Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP
455 Capitol Mall, Suite 600
Sacramento, CA 95814
916.442.7757
Fax: 916.442.7759
IGA has its own legal counsel on retainer and has the resources of a major political law firm available to safeguard common interests of members and their employers.
The association successfully challenged the constitutionality of several provisions of Proposition 9, approved by the voters in 1974, including its ban on contributions and burdensome reporting requirements. (FPPC v. Superior Court (1979) 25 Cal.3d 33).
IGA led the effort in 2010 to defeat Proposition 15 on the June 8, 2010 ballot. The measure would have imposed a $700 tax on all lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers to fund the public financing of Secretary of State candidates – ironically, the very entity charged with regulating the activity of lobbyists. The courts found, in two states, that lobbyist taxes like those proposed in Proposition 15, are unconstitutional. The measure was resoundingly defeated with 57.5% of the public voting “no.”
IGA also challenged the constitutionally of the more limited contribution ban of Proposition 34, approved by the voters in 2000. (Institute of Governmental Advocates v. FPPC (2001) 164 F.Supp.2d 1183).
IGA reviews and takes positions on legislation affecting the lobbying profession. We advocate on behalf of the profession and mobilize the membership to counter any hostile legislation or regulations. In recent years IGA was successful in amending a bill which would have prohibited lobbyists from communicating with elected state officials if the lobbyist’s clients or employers had a financial or contractual relationship with the official or his or her controlled campaign committee.
IGA also represents the interests of its members before the Secretary of State and the Fair Political Practices Commission. We were actively engaged in the adoption of regulations defining the qualifications of lobbyists following amendments to the definition of a “lobbyist” by Proposition 208. Following enactment of Proposition 34’s ban on contributions from lobbyists, IGA was active in limiting the scope of the ban through regulatory decisions of the FPPC.
For more information on new legislation and regulations,
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