In California, post-Watergate revulsion with corrupt politicians led to the passage of the Political Reform Act in 1974, which set strict campaign-finance disclosure requirements on state political campaigns.

In October 1995, California's Fair Political Practices Commission, charged with enforcing the PRA, levied the largest fine in its history, $808,000, against the president and treasurer of a grassroots group called Californians Against Corruption. The two had initiated an effort to oust the well-connected and allegedly corrupt 23-year state Sen. David Roberti from office, but had failed to note the occupation, employer, and address of people who had donated more than $100 to the recall cause.

The fine is almost eight times as high as the total amount of funds the two managed to raise in the recall cause. The FPPC's next-largest fines were levied against companies that laundered money for politicians.

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