The Phoenix-based group Americans for Responsible Leadership
made the donation to a committee working to defeat Proposition 30
and support Proposition 32.
Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne Chang ruled that the state's
Fair Political Practices Commission can conduct an audit to
determine if the donation was made in compliance with state
regulations.
The FPPC argues that disclosure rules require the nonprofit to
reveal its donors, if funds were earmarked for a ballot
initiative.
If that is the case, then the donors would have to be
disclosed.
The judge said California voters could suffer irreparable harm
because they may never know the donors they potentially have the
right to know.
Lawyers for both the state and Americans for Responsible
Leadership will argue their sides Wednesday before a final ruling
is granted.