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California Fair Elections Act
something to consider
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California Fair Elections Act
something to consider
EDITOR'S NOTE: LA Community Policing supports this ballot initiative in principal, giving Californians an opportunity to vote for the chance to install a pilot program that would go into effect in time for the 2014 election for the office of CA Attorney General.
by Bill Murray
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I recently attended a meeting of a local group (the Montecito Heights Improvement Association) where I heard a presentation by Ms. Robin Gilbert, who spoke on behalf of a campaign finance reform movement. She specifically gave a pitch for the addition on the 2010 ballot of an initiative for a pilot program that would for the first time use a "clean money" system for a single California public office, that of the Attorney General in 2014.
She asked for community support both in the form of individual signatures as well as for groups that would lend their name in support of the ballot initiative,
I had little problem telling her Los Angeles Community Policing would be happy to become a signatory, especially because of what the initiative was all about .. the opportunity for voters to have a bigger, more significant voice in government.
Several states have instituted Clean Money Campaign practices, including Arizona, where Janet Napolitano became the first Governor elected using only public funds.
So called "Fair Elections" work. According to Californians for Fair Elections on YesFairElections.com:
 Nearly 400 candidates in seven states and two cities were elected using only Fair Elections funding in their 2008 campaigns.
Voter turnout increases when people know their vote really matters.
Fair Elections create an even playing field that allows more women and candidates of diverse backgrounds to pursue elected office
Since public financing began in Arizona and Maine, elected officials have passed bi-partisan, ground breaking legislation that would not have been possible if they had to fear retribution from powerful special interests.
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In effect the passing of such laws has leveled the playing field a bit, away from the big money power brokers and lobbyists and giving more opportunity for candidates to pay attention to appearances at community functions and debates, rather than spending valuable time and energy worrying so much about raising money to finance
their campaigns.
LA Community Policing supports the ballot initiative and encourages the voters to use this opportunity to express their opinions, one way or another.
Yours in service,
Bill Murray
Founder, President
LA Community Policing
Here's a lot more about the upcoming ballot initiative:
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Arizona Governor Janet
Napolitano,
the first ever
governor elected with
only
public funds, now heads the
Dept of Homland Security.
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California Fair Elections Act
www.CAclean.org
Californians are not the only Americans angry that special interest money has taken over the electoral process. Americans in every state in the nation are also crying out for reform to restore democracy by giving ordinary voters an equal voice.
Their voices are beginning to be heard — and the early results are inspiring. Arizona, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and North Carolina have all passed versions of Clean Money reform.
Although Clean Money in Vermont and Massachusetts has faced setbacks due to attacks from entrenched politicians who don't want any competition, Clean Money in Arizona and Maine has taken hold and is already changing the system dramatically for the better.
Clean Money has lowered overall campaign spending, freed candidates from fundraising, increased turnout, and encouraged more qualified people to run including women and minorities. |
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“Clean” candidates, running free of financial dependence on private donors, have done extremely well. Seven out of nine statewide office holders in Arizona, including the governor, were elected after running “clean” elections. In Maine, candidates who ran “clean” now hold over half of the state assembly and over three-quarters of the state senate.
Just as importantly, races in states having Clean Money aren't being decided by which candidate has the most money anymore. With fair funding for all qualified candidates, money doesn't make a difference – only the candidates and voters do.
Clean Money is also taking hold in other arenas. In October 2002, North Carolina became the first state in the country to provide full public financing of judicial election campaigns, so judges don't have to be beholden to campaign contributors. This breakthrough has spurred clean elections efforts for judges in more than a half dozen states. In March 2003, New Mexico enacted full public financing for the Public Regulation Commission, so commissioner candidates won't have to accept political contributions from the same corporate interests they are running to regulate. Other efforts to pass Clean Money are proceeding across the country.
Nationally, revulsion over the misdeeds of corporations such as Enron and Arthur Andersen that gave millions to members of Congress and both the Clinton and Bush administrations helped lead to the passage of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill. While it only bans unlimited, “soft money” contributions to the national parties, McCain-Feingold is a start at controlling the worst campaign contribution excesses. And despite the deeply entrenched interests opposed toClean Money on the national level, a Clean Money, Clean Elections Act with full public financing has been introduced with multiple sponsors in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
What do all of these successes tell us? That Clean Money can pass and work despite all the efforts of embedded special interests to stop it. If it can pass in Arizona, Maine, and North Carolina, it can pass right here in California. And that would change everything. |
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