THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Last month I wrote about the need for a local campaign finance reform ordinance in Monterey County. The LWVC Campaign Financing Director, Donna Chipps, gives us the statewide perspective in the most recent LWVC Update:
"The League has long supported the concept of publicly financed campaigns. The Clean Money approach is the most comprehensive and effective way to end undue special interest influence in campaigns for public office. It also would level the playing field and encourage a greater number of qualified candidates to run for office. Today, many potential candidates are discouraged by the huge campaign war chests of incumbents and the need to spend countless hours raising campaign funds.
"Clean Money Elections have been implemented in Arizona and Maine for all state elections and in Vermont, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and North Carolina on a more limited basis. The results have led to more qualified and diverse candidates, increased voter turnout, and increased attention to voters' issues. By obtaining a specified number of small contributions to demonstrate broad public support, a candidate can qualify to voluntarily accept a spending limit and then receive public funds to run a viable campaign. Safeguards exist within the regulations that allow an infusion of additional money (up to a defined maximum) to match independent expenditure campaigns or privately funded campaigns that exceed the spending limits.
"The LWVC is encouraged that Assembly member Loni Hancock and her coauthors have introduced The Clean Money and Clean Elections Act of 2004 (AB 2949) in this legislative session. The League has not taken a position in support of AB 2949 because there are many details to be worked out in order to make this the best comprehensive strategy for the financing of campaigns in California. The League is committed to helping in that effort and announced its support of the Clean Money concept at an informational hearing of the Assembly Elections, Reapportionment, and Constitutional Amendments Committee on March 23. A highlight of that hearing was the testimony of Marc Spitzer, Chair of the Arizona Corporations Commission (a statewide elected office), who described his experience running a successful Clean Money campaign and how it freed him to meet with voters and concentrate on the merits of the issues.
"The California Clean Money Campaign has groups in many communities that are currently working to educate the public about Clean Money. The LWVC has participated in several "summit" meetings with the CCMC and other organizations that promote campaign finance reform. To learn more details about Clean Money, visit www.publicampaign.org and www.caclean.org."
--Beverly G. Bean, President, LWVMP
