Vote Yes on 15Vote YES on Proposition 15

CALIFORNIA FAIR ELECTIONS ACT
Legislative Initiative Amendment

League Positions | Discussion | Supporters | Opponents | Resources | Points to Make | Sample Letters to Editor

Note: For a full explanation of the measure and background information on it, including the fiscal effect, refer to the Legislative Analyst’s Office analysis included in the Secretary of State’s Official Voter Information Guide (http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/) and the LWVCEF Pros & Cons and In Depth coverage of Proposition 15.

LEAGUE POSITIONS

The LWVUS Campaign Finance position states that we believe that the methods of financing political campaigns should ensure the public’s right to know, combat corruption and undue influence, enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office and allow maximum citizen participation in the political process.

The LWVC Campaign Financing position supports state campaign finance practices for candidates and advocates of ballot measure positions that will ensure full disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures and enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office. It endorses effective monitoring and enforcement and measures that will broaden the base of campaign financing. We support realistic limits on contributions by individuals and groups to candidates and ballot measure campaigns and realistic limits on the amount each candidate and ballot measure committee can spend. Public funding measures should include realistic limits on contributions and expenditures.

DISCUSSION

The LWVC has been a longtime supporter of campaign finance measures in California, including. previous attempts at comprehensive reform in Proposition 68 of 1988 and Proposition 208 of 1996. Proposition 15 establishes a pilot program for candidates for Secretary of State to opt into a system to provide public financing in the 2014 and 2018 elections. Participating candidates are banned from raising or spending money beyond the funds provided, except for limited start-up money and limited party contributions. Proposition 15 has a different financing method than previous measures; the financing comes mainly from an increase in lobbyist registration fees.

The LWVUS and similar LWVC Campaign Finance positions provide a strong basis for support for this measure. Similar measures already adopted in other states have shown positive results: they have lowered overall campaign spending, freed candidates from the burden of fundraising, increased voter turnout, and encouraged more qualified people to run, including women and minorities.

Questions have been raised about the constitutionality of using lobbyist fees to fund the public financing program. These questions are based on two cases, one from Vermont, and one from Arizona. In both of these cases, a court invalidated the use of lobbyist registration fees to pay for public financing programs. The California program differs from the programs in Vermont and Arizona in several critical ways:

  • In California, the use of the lobbyist fee is not for a general public financing program, but specifically to fund the program for the office of Secretary of State, the office which administers California’s lobbyist disclosure and reporting systems. California has a compelling interest in ensuring the integrity of its chief elections officer and that the office responsible for overseeing lobbyists is free from allegations that it is beholden to lobbyists as a result of soliciting campaign contributions from lobbyists or lobbyist employers.
  • The $350 per year fee for lobbyists in Prop 15 is comparable to fees paid by other professionals in California, and is the same as is paid by lobbyists in other states (Illinois), and less than others (Massachusetts and Texas).
  • The Vermont tax was of significant size, 5 percent of all lobbying expenditures above $2,500 per year, that arguably could place a burden on lobbying. The Court specifically found that “the tax cannot be construed as a regulatory fee.”

See "Points to Make" for handouts detailing the provisions of the proposition and its benefits for California.

SUPPORTERS

Signing the ballot argument in favor:

Jeannine English, California State President
AARP

Zenaida T. Cortez, RN, President
California Nurses Association

Reverend Dr. Rick Schlosser, Executive Director
California Church Impact

Signing the rebuttal to the opponents’ argument: Janis R. Hirohama, League of Women Voters of California; Trent Lange, California Clean Money Campaign; and Kathay Feng, California Common Cause.

Other organizations supporting Proposition 15 include the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), California Democratic Council, California Primary Care Association, Consumer Federation of California, Equal Justice Society, Green Party of California, National Women’s Political Caucus, and the Sierra Club.

OPPONENTS

Signing the ballot argument against:

Deborah Howard, Executive Director
California Senior Advocates League

Jack Stewart, President
California Manufacturers and Technology Association

Paul Weber, President
Los Angeles Police Protective League

Signing the rebuttal to the supporters’ argument: T. Anthony Quinn, Ph.D., Former FPPC Commissioner; Colleen C. McAndrews, Former FPPC Commissioner; and William Hauck, Former FPPC Commissioner.

RESOURCES

Helen Hutchison, LWVC Government Director, govt@lwvc.org,

Trudy Schafer, LWVC Senior Director for Program
1107 Ninth Street, Suite 300, Sacramento 95814-3608
tschafer@lwvc.org, 916-442-7215

Yes on Proposition 15: Californians for Fair Elections, www.yesfairelections.org/ or www.YesOnProp15.org, 800.566.3780. fax 888.633.8898, is the committee formed primarily to support grassroots activity to pass Proposition 15. The LWVC is one of the cochairs. Visit the Web site to download reference and campaign materials, volunteer for the speakers bureau, participate in a phone bank, host house parties, and donate to the campaign. Keep checking back for links to new articles, editorials in support, etc.

Read more about the LWVC’s work on campaign finance reform.

POINTS TO MAKE 

The following flyers are good two-sided handouts for meetings and other use. Please visit www.yesfairelections.org  for other handouts and background material.

SAMPLE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Note: Please adapt this letter to your own community and check your local paper’s word limit for published letters.

Editor:

Voters in California will have the opportunity this June to address a perennial complaint about politicians—namely, that they are influenced by campaign donations. There is far too much money in the system: over $1 billion raised since 2000. No wonder almost 80 percent of those polled recently said state government is “pretty much run by a few big interests looking out for themselves.”

Prop 15, the California Fair Elections Act, establishes a voluntary public financing pilot program for candidates for Secretary of State in the 2014 and 2018 elections. Candidates must show broad support to qualify for Fair Elections funding and must not raise or spend money beyond the limited public financing. Let’s get politicians out of the fundraising game. Vote YES on Prop 15!

Sincerely,

(your name)
_________________________________________

Editor:

Proposition 15 on the June 8 ballot is a first step toward changing the way we finance elections in California. It is a pilot project to make voluntary public financing available to Secretary of State candidates in 2014 and 2018. Fees on lobbyists fund the program, not taxpayers’ dollars.

Public financing of campaigns has a successful, proven track record in Arizona, Maine, North Carolina and Connecticut. It frees politicians from fundraising and dampens the impact of special interest lobbyists. Elected officials have passed bipartisan, ground-breaking legislation without fearing retribution from powerful special interests. Women and minorities are encouraged to run, because candidates from all backgrounds can be elected, not just those who are wealthy or know wealthy donors.

Vote YES on Proposition 15!

Sincerely,

(your name)