Democracy in California

NewsBusters: The same day they voted to raise the minimum wage, five Democratic lawmakers received big campaign checks from a local union of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the group that pressured lawmakers for the wage bill, according to documents filed with the state.

The SEIU Local 1000 Candidate PAC made election contributions of $8,500 each to Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount), former Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) and Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose).

The local also gave a $4,200 campaign contribution to Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento).

All of those Democrats voted for the measure.

All of the contributions were made Thursday, the same day the Assembly and Senate approved a bill that would raise the minimum wage in California to $15 an hour over the next six years, according to the campaign finance report.