Your action is needed NOW on Assemblymember Loni Hancock's AB 583, an initiative for a pilot publicly funded election for California Secretary of State in 2014. It is before the state Senate, which will act on it by Tuesday. If it succeeds there and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs it, Californians would vote on the initiative in November 2010.
The following blog expires on August 19, 2008.
The California Clean Money Campaign, coordinating grassroots support statewide for the desperately needed campaign finance reform, is urging advocates to call Senate President pro Tem Don Perata’s office at (916) 651-4009. CCMC also is asking supporters to sign a petition through its Web site.
When you call, tell the person who answers the phone thanks to Senator Perata for being a co-author of AB 583, the Fair Elections bill, and that you hope he’ll do everything he can to help it pass because it’s so important to Californians. If you call when the office is closed, leave a message.
The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the bill Aug. 7 to the full Senate on a 9-6 vote after a massive turnout of nearly 80 supporters to the committee hearing Aug. 4.
Its chance of adoption jumped in July when the appropriations problem was solved. Funding would come from a hike in lobbyist fees to $350/year—$50 for non-profit organizations—and from voluntary tax contributions on state income tax forms.
The lobbyist fee hike is reasonable; lobbyists pay $350 per year in Minnesota.Currently California lobbyists pay far less than in most states, $25 for two years.
The Secretary of State regulates lobbyists, so having lobbyists substantially fund campaigns through impartial fees instead of sponsoring candidates would be essential to restore electoral integrity.
The Califorrnia Clean Money Campaign roused supporters from all over the state to pack the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. CCMC Leaders organizes carpools to Sacramento from as far away as Orange County and reimbursed drivers for gasoline for the trip.
Appropriations Chairman Tom Torlakson was quoted as saying that that CCMC "definitely won the prize" for the most supporters for any bill this year, and that there were so many people that "it looked like people were circling out one door and coming in another to testify again."
ECDC endorsed AB 583 shortly after Hancock introduced it. The bill passed the Assembly last year. In June it passed in the Senate Elections Committee. Please contact your state senator to urge passage. California Clean Money Campaign has a full report on AB583 at its web site.
