September 2008 - Voterowned - list.sfgreens.org

California Clean Money bill needs support ASAP!
by Rob Arnow, Voter Owned Elections 26 Sep '08

26 Sep '08

*Clean Money advocates ~ * * Our friends at the California Clean Money Campaign have successfully pushed the first Clean Money bill ever through the State Assembly and State Senate! * AB 583 would set up a pilot project for the office of Secretary of State to show that Clean Money full public financing of campaigns will work as well in California as it has in other states. It will now be paid for by voluntary contributions on state tax returns and by increasing the registration fees on lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers to what they are in other states. Lobbyists, who currently pay some of the lowest registration fees in the country, are trying to kill it. Don't let them! *URGE THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN THE CALIFORNIA FAIR ELECTIONS ACT!* *Please send a free fax to the Governor urging him to sign AB 583 to stop the money from coming in! <http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001klkD9r7YGDFwHCmQV0_wFqr_rfeT0OqTdWgHtM1hyWf94nA3…>* ** Once you've done that, if you have time, make a call to the Governor as well. The Governor's office is getting deluged with phone calls from people like you urging him sign AB 583 - *so many that the Governor's office made AB 583 one of only five out of 875 bills to have its own automated response option!* That's a huge sign of how much supporter there is for Clean Money and Fair Elections. *IF YOU HAVEN'T CALLED YET OR GOTTEN THROUGH, PLEASE CALL 916-445-2841 NOW!* You'll get an automated system when you call so won't need to even talk to anybody. Do the following: > Press 1 for English > Press 2 to "Voice your opinion on legislation" > Press 5 "about AB 583, regarding the Political Reform Act" > Press 1 "to register your support" *The line may be busy at first because so many people are calling. Keep trying until you get through - you should after a few tries.*

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Does your candidate for SF Supervisor support Clean Elections?
by Rob Arnow, Voter Owned Elections 22 Sep '08

22 Sep '08

*Clean Elections Supporters ~** The overwhelming majority of frontrunners in the SF Supervisorial races have signed on to the San Francisco Clean Government Pledge*, which commits them to supporting and expanding the public campaign financing program!* * Out of a field of 42 candidates seeking election to San Francisco's Board of Supervisors, *20 candidates have signed our pledge*,* *stating that if elected, they will: * Expand the public campaign financing program to cover ALL city offices including School Board, City College Board, and the 6 citywide elected positions. * Expand from a partial to a full public financing model. * Fund the program at the levels stated in the Campaign Finance Reform Ordinance, and will not the raid the fund to use for other purposes. * Support a Charter Amendment to protect the funds from political tampering in the future. We are proud that candidates from all sides of San Francisco's political spectrum have indicated that while they may disagree on policy, they can agree that elections should be decided on the merits and ideas of the candidates, rather than their fundraising abilities. You should be proud that all the work we have done has created a growing consensus around this issue in San Francisco. * Candidates who have signed the San Francisco Clean Government Pledge *(all candidates were contacted)*:* District 1: Jason Jungreis, Sue Lee, Eric Mar, Alicia Wang District 2: David Chiu, Anthony Gantner, Lynn Jefferson, Denise McCarthy, Wilma Pang District 4 Ron Dudum*, David Ferguson District 5: Ross Mirkarimi District 7: Julian Lagos District 9: David Campos, Eric Quezada, Mark Sanchez District 11: John Avalos, Randall Knox, Julio Ramos, Ahsha Safai *Only signed first part of pledge: agreed to guarantee funding, but not expansion to full public financing for all offices. We believe that public financing of campaigns is the reform that makes all other reforms possible. It's the BEST way to reduce the influence of private special interest money on public policy and bring about responsive, accountable government. With our federal government poised to give a trillion bailout to Wall Street, with no strings attached, the need for this type of reform has never been more clear. The San Francisco Clean Government Pledge program is co-sponsored by California Church IMPACT, California Clean Money Campaign, Change Congress, Common Cause, Democracy for America, Greenlining Institute, Healthcare for All, New America Foundation and San Franciscans for Voter Owned Elections. All sponsoring groups will be sending the results of the pledge to their lists. For more information visit: http://voterownedelections.org/pledge2008.html

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Which candidates for Supervisor support Clean Elections??
by Rob Arnow, Voter Owned Elections 04 Sep '08

04 Sep '08

Supporters of Clean Elections ~ *Yesterday was the kick-off of an amazing pledge, called the San Francisco Clean Government Pledge, which we're circulating to candidates for SF Supervisor! Read below to find out how you can help!* The pledge commits candidates to fully funding the current public financing program, to supporting a Charter Amendment to protect the funds, AND to expansion to a full public financing, or "Clean Elections" system that covers ALL city offices. We've teamed up with 8 other organizations, and are collaborating closely with the California Clean Money Campaign, on the pledge. All the sponsoring groups have agreed to send the results of the pledge to their lists in San Francisco, some of which are downright massive! * The sponsoring groups are:* . California Church IMPACT . California Clean Money Campaign . Change Congress . Common Cause . Democracy for America . Greenlining Institute . Healthcare for All . New America Foundation . San Franciscans for Voter Owned Elections *Check out a recent article in the SF Chronicle that talks about the program and mentions the pledge, along with several good quotes from us <http://www.voterownedelections.org/Races%20test%20public%20financing%20SF%2…>. * *What can you do?* The Pledge deadline is September 17 at 5pm. We have already emailed all the candidates a copy of the pledge, but your voice will be helpful to ensuring they sign. . Ask candidates if they support the San Francisco Clean Government Pledge, either in person or at candidate forums. . Print out the attached Pledge and ask candidates to sign it in person. . Once we release the results, it will expand the power and influence of the pledge if you distribute it to your own lists. Although we're not publicly releasing the names of signers until after the deadline, if you're interested in approaching a particular candidate, let me know, and I can let you know if they've already signed the pledge. So far, 9 candidates have signed on. Let me know if you have any questions, or would like to be involved! Thanks, Rob Arnow San Franciscans for Voter Owned Elections www.voterownedelections.org 415-552-2229

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