How Google Bought Legislation to Let Driverless Cars on California Highways

With $140,000 to a prominent Sacramento law firm and a steady drumbeat of state ($64,000 to state senatorial candidates) and federal campaign contributions (over $8 million), Google pushed for a bill that could have been controversial — to let their robot cars onto the freeways of California. But because of their spending (and their savvy), the bill sailed through the state's senate and awaits approval from the governor. Go read the whole story; Zusha Elinson from The Bay Citizen got some choice quotes from politicos about what it looks like for tech money to flex its political power.

By
Reyhan Harmanci
by Reyhan Harmanci

BuzzFeed Staff

How Google Bought Legislation to Let Driverless Cars on California Highways

baycitizen.org

With $140,000 to a prominent Sacramento law firm and a steady drumbeat of state ($64,000 to state senatorial candidates) and federal campaign contributions (over $8 million), Google pushed for a bill that could have been controversial — to let their robot cars onto the freeways of California. But because of their spending (and their savvy), the bill sailed through the state's senate and awaits approval from the governor. Go read the whole story; Zusha Elinson from The Bay Citizen got some choice quotes from politicos about what it looks like for tech money to flex its political power.

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