About them:
Numerous businesses having business before the Legislature have donated more than $500,000 to NGOs connected to Anthony Rendon’s wife, Annie Lam, throughout the years since he became the speaker of the California Assembly.
Nonprofits are not compelled to make their contributors’ names public. But according to public documents, advertising fliers, and interviews, five organizations where annie lam works have received donations or sponsorships from more than 50 organizations since 2016, when Rendon became the speaker.
According to statistics, more over half of the sponsors and donors are businesses that frequently lobby the Legislature on legislation that might have an impact on their bottom lines. Other supporters include a few governmental entities, attorneys, and lobbyists.
Rendon was presiding over the legislative votes, which some of the businesses were vehemently against.
Experts said the Pacific Gas and Electric Co.-led donations and sponsorships are not unlawful, but they raise concerns about whether Lakewood Democrat Rendon may be swayed by people who support organisations his wife runs. They also expose the state’s political finance rules’ restrictions, which don’t cover this sort of fundraising by charities with ties to the Capitol.
He plays no part in the fundraising process, according to both annie lam and Rendon. Rendon said that the gifts never had an impact on legislation or the choices he made as speaker.
He declared that there was no relationship between any contributions made to Annie’s charitable organizations and the passage of any legislation.
Non-profit organization:
More than ten years before her husband was chosen to serve as the speaker of the house, dr annie lam’s political career likewise had its start in the Assembly.
Early in the 2000s, she worked for Judy Chu, an assemblywoman who is now a congressman, as her legislative assistant. After Mike Eng, Chu’s spouse, was chosen to serve in the Assembly in 2006, dr annie lam was promoted to legislative director.
In a private ceremony officiated by the former Assembly Speaker John Pérez, Rendon and annie lam rendon wed in 2014.
According to her APIs Mobilize profile, dr annie lam also owns and operates her own consulting business where she is a “recognised expert in public and nonprofit service.” Leading organisations that promote and help young people from underrepresented groups is a part of her profession, which Lam described as her “passion.” Rendon said that annie lam started working at four other organisations that took donations from his contributors during the course of the subsequent three years.
Her earnings had surpassed $200,000 by the time he made more than $100,000 from her firm in 2019, according to his records. According to Rendon’s report, his wife received over $20,000 from each of the five NGOs. He is not required to be more precise in the report. Lam opted not to disclose her income. annie lam started working with the Women’s Caucus of the League of California Cities in 2017. In order to enable “city officials who share common interests or characteristics to connect with one another,” the Asian Pacific Islander and Women’s Caucuses were established, and she is currently their executive director.