The Hidden Cost of Influence: California Lawmakers’ $820,000 Travel Funded by Special Interests in 2024

Every single day in 2024, there’s a strong chance a California legislator was on the move—jetting off on trips paid for by special interests whose business frequently lands at the state Capitol.According to mandatory financial disclosures filed earlier this year, more than $820,000 was spent by nearly 100 corporations and nonprofits to fund travel for 92 lawmakers—accounting for roughly three-quarters of California’s Legislature. These excursions ranged from local destinations like Berkeley to far-flung locations such as Europe, Southeast Asia, and Israel.Does This ‘Study Tour’ Culture Undermine State Sovereignty?The largest spender? The California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy (CFEE),...