Sarah Palin helped this bill pass. Well, sort of. Last year, Palin spoke at a fundraising gala for California State University Stanislaus. Her critics wanted to know how much she was getting paid, so they filed a public records request. But the campus wouldn't comply. It said Palin's contract was with the university's foundation - not the university itself - and therefore, nobody's business.
Democratic Senator Leland Yee's bill would change that. Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the measure last year after heavy lobbying from the universities. But Yee says he's reached a compromise that keeps most donors' information private - except the biggest ones or those with conflicts of interest.
Foundations are the most frequent university auxiliaries - but they're not the only ones. Some California public radio and TV stations are, too.
Capital Public Radio is an auxiliary of Sacramento State.
