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The Latest: California Senate ends fundraising blackout

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Latest on the California Senate ending lobbyist fundraising restrictions (all times local):

10:55 a.m.

The California Senate is backing away from the fundraising blackout it imposed after a series of ethical violations led to the suspension of three senators 2014.

Senators voted 24-8 to reverse the two-year-old rule change, a day before senators would have been forced to stop some fundraising just a month before the June primary.

The restrictions barred lawmakers from seeking or accepting campaign contributions from lobbyists during certain periods. One such period begins after the governor releases his revised budget, which is scheduled for Friday.

Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon says the restriction puts incumbent senators at a disadvantage. The Los Angeles Democrat says senators can’t “unilaterally disarm” when opponents can raise and spend millions to attack them.

The Assembly does not have a fundraising blackout.

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This story has been corrected to show that senators were suspended, but did not resign

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