Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg has appointed Betsy Butler to the state's Film Commission.
Despite having never run for office before, Butler is the leading contender to replace Ted Lieu in the Assembly largely by virtue of her Sacramento connections. Butler is the top fundraiser for the Consumer Attorneys of California, a lobbying group for trial lawyers. Before that she worked for the League of Conservation Voters and the Environmental Defense Fund.
As far as I'm aware, Butler has never worked in government before*, so this film commission appointment could be intended to fill in that gap on her resume. Steinberg has endorsed Butler in next year's Democratic primary.
* UPDATE: Wrong. Butler worked for four years in the Commerce Department during the Clinton Administration.
Despite having never run for office before, Butler is the leading contender to replace Ted Lieu in the Assembly largely by virtue of her Sacramento connections. Butler is the top fundraiser for the Consumer Attorneys of California, a lobbying group for trial lawyers. Before that she worked for the League of Conservation Voters and the Environmental Defense Fund.
As far as I'm aware, Butler has never worked in government before*, so this film commission appointment could be intended to fill in that gap on her resume. Steinberg has endorsed Butler in next year's Democratic primary.
* UPDATE: Wrong. Butler worked for four years in the Commerce Department during the Clinton Administration.
Great! So the Democrats are going to address the lobbyist issues in Sacramento by...getting one of them elected?!
We're going to ignore the experience of local city council members who have networked throughout the South Bay, learned about the industries that make it work,and have a genuine interest in the well being of our district.
Chalk another carpetbagger up for the Democrats!
The leading candidate? At last count she was one of eight - and not even the top fund raiser. As to government experience within the group,two are city council representatives, one was a member of Maxine Waters' staff, another was a member of Henry Waxman's staff and yet another is a prosecutor for the City of LA. All-in-all, a well qualified field!
Betsy "Bucks" Butler is absolutely the very embodiment of everything that's wrong with Sacramento. I've got my eye on Peter Thottam (http://www.peterthottam.com). I saw him at the Feb 4, 2010 candidate forum. Wow. This guy was a refreshing breath of fresh air admist a crop of party-line trotting know-nothings. Check out his website for his platform and endorsements.
I hope the South bay can be rid of the typical, trial lawyer lobbyists like Betsy Butler, and her Sacramento connections. Picked to replace Democrat Lieu, as another Democrat replacement, that has been killing our economy in South Bay. Every tax that can be possibly waged against this area is maxed out thanks to these liberal Democrats who keep getting elected here. My cell phones, my sales tax has another Torrance tax, and on and on...When will this city ever grow up and see that we are being eaten alive by the liberal Democrats who are destroying our businesses. Look at Hawthorne Blvd., and just look at how many businesses are closing here. FIVE new car lots closed in weeks. The government here is gigantic. Every penny is spent on the most wasteful programs, while city streets destroy our cars. Flooding, and congestion are out of control. STOP South Bay residents. Why are you all so pro Democrat. They care nothing for us. They care about themselves, with Washington as their role model. My goodness, Jane Harman has done more to devastate South Bay than any earthquake. Send a message to GOVERNMENT by sending Butler packing.
I guess its silly season here. People accusing Betsy Butler of being a lobbyist. She is a fundraiser for progressive organizations, most recently the Consumer Attorneys, but also some great environmental organizations.
Not a lobbyist. Lobbyists work in Sacramento and have to be registered. And they try to get legislators to vote a certain way.
A fundraiser gets people to contribute money to a cause - in this case either the environment or consumer rights.
Likely the people who posted above with negative things to say about Betsy Butler are either her opponent's campaigns (very likely) or the large group of corporate interests that are terrified that she will get elected. These wonderful organizations include Aetna, AIG, Shell Oil, Tobacco Companies and other insurance companies. Groups that a STRONGLY opposed to progressive ideals. These groups want to keep getting breaks and not pay their fair share.
Its really sad that people can get on here and attack somebody who has been serving others her entire life - and they can do it without actually posting their real name or their real purpose. These types of people are called internet trolls. Very brave when posting anonymously. Not so much when approached in person with real facts.
I have never met Ms. Butler. But from all available evidence, the claim that she is a "lobbyist" simply is false. There is no record of her ever filing any of the forms that lobbyists have to fill out. She is not one. Period. End of Story.
Now can we have a real dialog about the issues facing all us without the shrill crying of someone trying to blame our country's problems on someone who has not even been elected yet? At least give her a chance. Let's hear the candidates out and make decisions. Name calling, spreading false rumors, simply is the opposite of the American Ideal we should all be striving for.
Big oil, insurance and tobacco interests launch smear campaign against Betsy Butler in AD 53.
Begin with $147,000 expenditure targeting strong consumer and environmental champion Butler
Corporate Independent Expenditure Committees have launched a full-scale smear campaign against Democratic candidate Betsy Butler in Assembly District 53.
These corporate interests are led by the Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC), a coalition of large businesses working to deny consumers and workers their right to seek legal remedy against corporate misdeeds.
Corporations on the Board of CJAC include Chevron, Anthem Blue Cross, AIG, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association, Shell Oil, British Petroleum and Altria.
Over the last couple of days corporate PAC Independent Expenditures totaling $147,224 have been filed in opposition to Betsy Butler. Their expenditures have been for polling, opposition research, campaign consulting and cable TV time and production.
Also involved is an affiliated group, the California Alliance for Patients Protection, a coalition of large insurance companies.
“Why have these corporate interests picked Betsy Butler to be the target of their smear campaign?,” asked Butler’s consultant Parke Skelton. “Maybe it has something to do with her proven leadership on consumer protection and environmental issues.”
“CJAC has hired an ‘opposition research’ firm in an effort to dig up dirt,” continued Skelton. “Voters should brace themselves for a blizzard of untruthful and negative mail and TV.”
CJAC brags in their promotional materials that they spent over $2 million in the 2008 election cycle in efforts to defeat pro-consumer candidates for California state legislature.
—
In addition the following BIG Special Interest Groups are also pouring money into negative and untrue advertising based on the the false premise that Betsy Butler is a Lobbyist – even when the evidence clearly shows “Betsy Butler is NOT a Lobbyist and Never has been one”
K Street Lobbyists in Sacramento are pouring money into paid negative mail hit pieces against Betsy Butler.
All coming from one Address:
1201 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
– Californians for Balance and Fairness in The Civil Justice System, Sponsored by Civil Justice Association of California
– Put California Back to Work, Sponsored by the Civil Justice Association of California
– Californians Allied for Patient Protection
– Civil Justice Association of California
1201 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
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