Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is getting dragged ruthlessly after an online advertisement revealed that campaign contributors from those backing her reelection would be matched by taxpayer dollars. “Your donation to our campaign right now is more critical than ever before,” Bass, talking into a lapel microphone with cheesy upbeat music playing in the background of the ad, which was published as an X post on her campaign account.
“Let me explain,” she added. “Thanks to LA’s super match program, every qualified donation from Los Angeles residents is matched 6-to-1 by the city. But after the primary, we had to start over from scratch, so we need you to rush your matching donation right now to help fuel this campaign.” Bass then said that those who chip in $5 would actually, thanks to the match made with the money ripped from taxpayers’ pockets, actually equal a donation of $35.
Those that gave $25 would see that total turn into $175. As soon as the post hit social media, it began raising questions and concerns that tax dollars are being used to fund Bass’ campaign, which would mean that those who are conservative and want nothing to do with her would be funding her political run, which would be an egregious violation of said individuals’ principles.
“It’s a system they set up to enrich themselves and their friends and get themselves elected,” Roxanne Hoge, chairwoman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County, said in a statement delivered to Fox News in response to the video. “It’s like when you’re a kid, and the kid with the fancy ball gets to make all the rules of the game you’re about to play. That’s what this is.”
Shockingly, doing this is actually legal. “It’s much like when people complain about election fraud in California. It’s not fraud. Everything is codified just the way they like it,” Hoge explained. “Almost none of the money that Los Angeles takes in is used for things that make sense,” she elaborated. “Money goes to homelessness and it increases homelessness. Basically, nothing makes sense here, and this is another thing that doesn’t make sense.”
What’s not shocking is Bass’ campaign remaining silent when being asked to comment on the ad. However, critics took to social media to rage about the program, which has been used by mayoral candidates since the 1990s. “This is grotesque,” Michael Shellenberger, an author and University of Austin professor said of the video.
Richard Grenell, an official within the Trump administration, called the program “outrageous.” David McIntosh, an official who served under former President Ronald Reagan said, “Hold your horses… The current Mayor of the City of LA, who is running for reelection, is allowed to take money from the city to fund her campaign at a 6 to 1 payout???”
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“That’s so innovative, I’m sure this is totally legit and not communist at all,” Los Angeles activist Tony Moon went on to say with more than a hint of sarcasm. The match limit has increased steadily over the years, and in 2019, the current 6-to-1 match took effect and it has been used ever since. Candidates who qualify can choose whether to participate in the matching program and have to fill out a statement of acceptance to receive the funds.
In order to qualify, a candidate must have already raised 300 times the maximum matchable amount per contributor, which is $257, and have a minimum of 100 donors who have contributed $5 or more and live in Los Angeles, have an opponent, and hold at least one town hall or debate event. All matched donations are required to come from Angelenos.
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video