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Democrat criticizes Bustamante fundraising
GOP LAWMAKER SUES OVER CAMPAIGN LIMITS

September 05, 2003

Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante's fundraising came under more fire Thursday when the Democrat's own party leader took a surprising swipe at him, saying his actions are creating a ``bad impression,'' and a Republican legislator sued to force him to obey contribution limits.

California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres said he believes it was legal for Bustamante to accept more than $2 million from casino-owning Indian tribes into a campaign committee set up for his 2002 re-election, but ``in such a high-profile case, you'd think he would not be so clever about it.''

Bustamante wasn't alone in facing a campaign fundraising controversy. Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger moved to douse criticism that he had reneged on a vow not to take union contributions, and Thursday returned a $2,500 check to the organization that represents Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies.

For Bustamante, however, the lone major Democrat in the race to succeed Gov. Gray Davis if he is recalled Oct. 7, the finance issue will not fade any time soon. Even as the criticism mounted, more big checks to his 2002 committee were disclosed Thursday, including $700,000 from a 13,000-member state-employee union. Since Aug. 25, Bustamante's 2002 committee has collected $3.6 million in contributions of $100,000 or more, all from Indian tribes and public-employee unions.