Naughty, naughty Cruzer!
Barry Witt and Howard Mintz at the Merc reveal that Bustamante using donor loophole:

Despite a voter-approved measure that was supposed to keep big money donations out of California politics, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante is exploiting a gaping loophole in the law that will allow him to collect up to $4 million in large sums from a handful of special-interest donors.

The leading Democrat in the recall race has already received his first big check -- $300,000 -- from the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a San Diego-area Indian tribe with casino interests. The contribution, which the campaign disclosed Sunday, went to Bustamante's 2002 re-election committee, which isn't subject to the $21,200 fundraising limit established by Proposition 34.

Say what? The 2002 election committee?

But Bustamante can legally transfer the money to his 2003 ``Yes on Bustamante'' committee, formed this month to support his campaign for governor in the Oct. 7 recall election, according to the Fair Political Practices Commission, which governs California election finance.

Oh yeah, the Sycuan Band has 120 members. And a big honking casino and a resort/country club.

Good thing the Democrat party is the party of the people or I'd think they might be in the hip pocket of special interests!

BTW: The article has a nice snap of Cruzer too. Wotta guy!