In 2000, voters approved a ballot measure that limited the size of direct campaign contributions.  It applies to candidates for legislative and state office.  But despite the cap, candidates and office holders have raised more than one billion dollars since then.  Ross Johnson chairs the Fair Political Practices Commission.  He says that comes out to about 14-thousand dollars an hour.  Johnson says candidates have found many ways to legally circumvent the restrictions.  Other ways to get money to candidates include contributions to ballot measure committees, legal defense funds and charitable donations.  In a statement, Johnson said the tactics allow candidates and officeholders to “evade the intent of the people of California.”