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2009 Election Year We are currently working to promote a modern version of public campaign finance at the state and federal level, and there are a few races that got our attention. State-wide initiatives and referendums. Approve R-71: We have seen a surprising amount of support for domestic partnerships during our fieldwork on R-71. So far we have distributed over 4,100 pieces of literature “by hand” to people in eastern Washington encouraging them to vote “approve." “No on I-1033”: Tim Eyman is at it again. We have noticed that even among the more conservative constituents of Eastern Washington, his welcome is wearing thin. Unless we defeat it, I-1033 will restrict most state revenue sources to a rigid formula that will choke off vital social services. Local Races For the Pullman City
Council, we have endorsed Dave Gibney and Bill Paul.
We have been impressed by Gibney’s extensive knowledge of local
government and issues, and we are confident that he will be a progressive voice
on the Pullman City Council. Bill
Paul is the first Republican we have explicitly endorsed.
While he is more Conservative than many of our membership on some issues,
he articulates positions that consistent with our progressive values for
recycling, smart growth, and effective local government.
For the Spokane City Council, we have endorsed Amber Waldref for District #1, and Jon Snyder for Dist. #2. These races are really exciting us, and we have been helping them with leafleting, doorbelling, and sign waiving. Their election will move the Spokane City Council very near a progressive majority. We have also endorsed the Community Bill of Rights, which will be on the ballot for residents of Spokane. The Community Bill of Rights is a far-sighted document that is analogous to our U.S. Bill of Rights. It will give citizens of Spokane more say and more rights in their local government, economy, and neighborhoods. Legislative Races We have endorsed Laura Grant for the 16th legislative district, which is larger Walla Walla County. This a special election for the remainder of Bill Grants term. Laura is the only rural Democrat in the legislature, and the only teacher in the legislature. This is a race we want to win!
Modern Public Campaign Finance There are efforts in the State of Washington, other states, and Washington D.C. to take the corrupting influence of big money out of politics, and there have been some very notable successes. They have done it though modern public campaign finance, which is vastly different from the old-style check box on your tax returns. Connecticut, Main, and Arizona and other jurisdictions have already passed public campaign finance laws.
Some of the success
The best part is that these elected officials did not have to sell out to big money interests. The only people they have to work for are their constituents (see WPC). Let’s say you want to run for public office. To qualify for public funding, you must demonstrate that you are a legitimate candidate by collecting signatures and small donations from a predetermined number of voters (e.g., 100 signatures and $5 donations for a small local race or 1,500 signatures contributions of no more than $100 for the U.S. House of Representatives). After giving the signatures and money to the appropriate public agency that certifies eligibility, you will receive public funding in an amount that historically has been sufficient to run a competitive campaign for your race and part of the country. However, you cannot take private donations from other sources (unless they are less than $100 in a federal race), and this is what takes the big money out of politics. If your opponent raises considerably more than you are given, you are eligible for additional public funding to keep the playing field approximately level. These “fair fight” provisions usually prevent wealthy candidates from vastly outspending publicly-funded candidates. These programs are voluntary for candidates. As you can see from the above statistics, the candidates that use public financing tend to win. Candidates that use these programs can spend most of their time talking to constituents and learning about the issues (instead of racing money, and they can tell voters that they are clean . . . that they have not been bought by wealthy special interests. Read more about the federal bill, FENA. Voters love it. A national poll conducted in November 2008 showed that 67% of Americans support public financing for Senate and Congressional campaigns as proposed in the current FENA bill (compared to to 20% that opposed it) (see WPC). Once candidates use the program, they tend to love it as well
The corrupting influence of money affects every issue Folks . . . what ever social problem you're the most concerned about, public campaign finance will make it much easier to solve. The influence of big money in Washington D.C. corrupts every single issue. It is making it difficult to forge peace instead of wage war, reform health care, combat global warming, and regulate our banks (see WPC). Q: Why are we still at war in
Iraq? Q: Why don't we have real health
care reform?
Q: Why don't we have
meaningful legislation to combat global warming? Q: Why did federal
regulators fail to prevent the collapse of some of the nation's biggest banks
leaving tax payers with a multi-trillion dollar tab and many bankers with an
larger fortune than they had before?
Public financing is affordable In Washington State, a program for all state executive offices, all legislative races, and all upper-level judicial races would cost less than $4 per person per year — less than a coffee mocha! Draft Bills You can read a summary of the legislation that was considered in the Washington State legislature to publicly fund State Supreme Court races here. And, you can read a summary of the FENA bill that was introduced in the U.S. Senate and the House here.
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