Campaign Finance Reform
The recent McCain-Feingold Federal Campaign Finance Reform (CFR) legislation limited individual contributions to candidates to $2000 and PAC contributions to $5000. Until September of 2006, NO jurisdiction in Monterey County had any campaign finance ordinance regulating campaign contributions. The city of Pacific Grove recently adopted a strong CFR ordinance largely based on the LWVMP model CFR ordinance. Other local jurisdictions rely on the minimal restrictions and requirements of California state law. As a result, contributions to candidates from individuals or organizations can be enormous.
A committee of the League of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula has been studying Campaign Finance Reform for the past year. We have developed a model ordinance to be used as a guideline in the development of local ordinances in Monterey County. [If you need the viewer for this file format, go to Adobe Acrobat Reader.]
If you believe that your community would benefit from Campaign Finance Reform, lobby your locally elected officials and tell them about our model ordinance!
League Background Information on Campaign Finance
"Campaign Finance Reform" in the November 2005 issue of our newsletter, The VOTER
"The President's Message" in the April 2004 and May 2004 issues of our newsletter, The VOTER
Campaign Finance Reform: the Way Forward from the LWVUS [PDF, 99KB]
American Democracy at Risk, LWVUS President Kay J. Maxwell at a LWV of New Mexico event
The Leagues's History on Campaign Finance
