A Sacramento judge is close to requiring an Arizona group to disclose the donors behind an $11 million political contribution.
 
The Phoenix-based group Americans for Responsible Leadership made the donation to a committee working to defeat Proposition 30 and support Proposition 32.

Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne Chang ruled that the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission can conduct an audit to determine if the donation was made in compliance with state regulations.

The FPPC argues that disclosure rules require the nonprofit to reveal its donors, if funds were earmarked for a ballot initiative. If that is the case, then the donors would have to be disclosed.

Judge Chang said California voters could suffer irreparable harm because they may never know the donors they potentially have the right to know.

Lawyers for both the state and Americans for Responsible Leadership will argue their sides at a final hearing on Wednesday before a final ruling is granted.