Small favors

GOP congressman Brian Bilbray used his Twitter feed to tout his mention last week in a USA Today story about a successful bill he’d authored to qualify three-wheeled vehicles for federal research funding, the main beneficiary being Vista-based Aptera Motors, backed by heavy hitters including Google and Rockwell. Not mentioned was the role of Washington lobbying firm GovBiz Advantage, to which Aptera paid $60,000. On June 22, GovBiz’s Duane R. Gibson gave Bilbray a $500 campaign contribution. … The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, whose plans for a lease renewal at the fairgrounds racetrack was held up at least a year by the intervention over the summer of state Democratic senator Christine Kehoe, has gotten busy handing out campaign contributions to a raft of other state politicos. On July 14, according to a recent disclosure filing, the track operator gave $500 each to Democratic senator Jenny Oropeza, as well as GOP assemblymen Martin Garrick, Paul Cook, and Joel Anderson and Democrat Steve Bradford. The senate campaign of Democratic assemblyman Joe Coto got $1000 on July 28.