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Contact Supes Now! Last Chance for Mayoral Public Financing in Budget!
by Rob Arnow, Voter Owned Elections 16 Jul '09

16 Jul '09

Supporters of public campaign financing ~ *We urgently need your help.* The mayor and his downtown backers once again are on the verge of outsmarting the Board of Supervisors and raiding the public financing fund. We need you to contact Budget Chair John Avalos and Board President David Chiu right away. *HERE IS THE BACKGROUND: *The Board of Supervisors Budget Committee, led by Supervisor John Avalos, passed the full budget out of committee last week, WITHOUT restoring the mayor's secret $2.3 million raid on the public financing fund -- http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/10/BA1418409G.DTL This was in direct contradiction to the pledge Avalos and other Supervisors had signed, and had reiterated in public meetings, in private conversations and to the media -- http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/politics/2009/06/newsoms_shell_game_part_i_publ.h… If this money is not restored, there are not enough funds to cover public financing for the 2011 mayoral race, and possibly the 2011 Supervisorial races as well. *The good news:* Fortunately, Avalos and the other Supervisors are now saying that they are trying to figure out how to restore the funding at the full Board meeting next Tuesday. But their commitment has already been shaky. And since this already has passed the Budget Committee without being restored, we know that we can't take this outcome for granted. * What you need to do:* Call and write John Avalos & David Chiu right away (see sample letter below). Ask them to fulfill the campaign pledge that they signed to restore the $2.3 million that the mayor raided from the public financing fund. Your voice is the only thing protecting public financing right now! And if you can make the Board meeting next week and voice your opinion, please do. HERE IS THEIR CONTACT INFO: Budget Chair John Avalos john.avalos(a)sfgov.org 415-554-6975 Board President David Chiu david.chiu(a)sfgov.org 415-554-7450 SUBJECT: Restore public campaign financing funds! Dear Supervisor [__________], Public campaign financing is the only the thing that can bring our democracy into the 21st Century -- a democracy based on who has the best ideas, not who can raise the most money. Please fulfill the pledge you signed during your campaign last year to ensure full funding for this crucial program. While public financing costs a very small amount of money in the short run, it saves far more, in the long run, by ensuring a government that acts in the best interests of the majority, rather than a small group of donors. Thank you, [Your Name] ------------------ Rob Arnow San Franciscans for Voter Owned Elections www.voterownedelections.org 415-552-2229 "I also believe that if we're serious about change, we need to have a real discussion about public financing for congressional elections. Because even if we can stop lobbyists from buying us lunch or taking us out on junkets, they'll still be able to attend our fundraisers -- and that's access the average American doesn't have." --- Barack Obama, August 2, 2007

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Contact Supes Now! Last Chance for Mayoral Public Financing in Budget!
by Rob Arnow, Voter Owned Elections 16 Jul '09

16 Jul '09

Supporters of public campaign financing ~ *We urgently need your help.* The mayor and his downtown backers once again are on the verge of outsmarting the Board of Supervisors and raiding the public financing fund. We need you to contact Budget Chair John Avalos and Board President David Chiu right away. *HERE IS THE BACKGROUND: *The Board of Supervisors Budget Committee, led by Supervisor John Avalos, passed the full budget out of committee last week, WITHOUT restoring the mayor's secret $2.3 million raid on the public financing fund -- http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/10/BA1418409G.DTL This was in direct contradiction to the pledge Avalos and other Supervisors had signed, and had reiterated in public meetings, in private conversations and to the media -- http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/politics/2009/06/newsoms_shell_game_part_i_publ.h… If this money is not restored, there are not enough funds to cover public financing for the 2011 mayoral race, and possibly the 2011 Supervisorial races as well. *The good news:* Fortunately, Avalos and the other Supervisors are now saying that they are trying to figure out how to restore the funding at the full Board meeting next Tuesday. But their commitment has already been shaky. And since this already has passed the Budget Committee without being restored, we know that we can't take this outcome for granted. * What you need to do:* Call and write John Avalos & David Chiu right away (see sample letter below). Ask them to fulfill the campaign pledge that they signed to restore the $2.3 million that the mayor raided from the public financing fund. Your voice is the only thing protecting public financing right now! And if you can make the Board meeting next week and voice your opinion, please do. HERE IS THEIR CONTACT INFO: Budget Chair John Avalos john.avalos(a)sfgov.org 415-554-6975 Board President David Chiu david.chiu(a)sfgov.org 415-554-7450 SUBJECT: Restore public campaign financing funds! Dear Supervisor [__________], Public campaign financing is the only the thing that can bring our democracy into the 21st Century -- a democracy based on who has the best ideas, not who can raise the most money. Please fulfill the pledge you signed during your campaign last year to ensure full funding for this crucial program. While public financing costs a very small amount of money in the short run, it saves far more, in the long run, by ensuring a government that acts in the best interests of the majority, rather than a small group of donors. Thank you, [Your Name] ------------------ Rob Arnow San Franciscans for Voter Owned Elections www.voterownedelections.org 415-552-2229 "I also believe that if we're serious about change, we need to have a real discussion about public financing for congressional elections. Because even if we can stop lobbyists from buying us lunch or taking us out on junkets, they'll still be able to attend our fundraisers -- and that's access the average American doesn't have." --- Barack Obama, August 2, 2007

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Mayor slashes public campaign financing in proposed budget
by Rob Arnow, Voter Owned Elections 09 Jun '09

09 Jun '09

Afficionados of democracy ~ *1. Some good news and some bad*. *After removing $5 million from the public financing fund last year, which he promised to restore this year, the mayor has instead cut an additional $1.4 - $2.3 million from the fund. *Unfortunately, we can't tell exactly how much, since the mayor's proposed budget document actually has no published information about this cut whatsoever. We only were able to find out through sources in City Hall. While the mayor claims that this is only in response to the budget crisis and that the money will be returned later, the mayor actually tried to raid $6 million from the fund before the budget troubles even hit, 3 years ago.* *If this decision stands, we will be far short of the minimum amount needed to have public financing for mayoral candidates in 2011.* *Fortunately, Budget Committee Chair John Avalos has strongly confirmed his pledge to restore the funding for the program!* Two other members of the Budget Committee, David Campos and Ross Mirkarimi have also confirmed their commitment, so with those three we have a majority. Bevan Dufty has also been a supporter of public financing in the past, so we hope he'll join the other members of the committee in supporting this. While we can't know for sure until the budget passes, it seems likely that we have the votes to restore the funding. *Steve Jones at the Guardian wrote a blog post on the situation today: *http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/politics/2009/06/newsoms_shell_game_part_i_publ.html * In the mean time, if you haven't already, it would help to send to emails to Avalos, Campos & Mirkarimi strongly thanking them for their commitment to restore the funds:* ross.mirkarimi(a)sfgov.org david.campos(a)sfgov.org john.avalos(a)sfgov.org *2.* *Also, in lighter news, we recently arranged an op-ed in the San Jose Mercury News about the federal Fair Elections Now Act, penned by our esteemed Assemblyman Tom Ammiano: *http://www.mercurynews.com/elections/ci_12386335 Rob Arnow -- San Franciscans for Voter Owned Elections www.voterownedelections.org 415-552-2229 "I also believe that if we're serious about change, we need to have a real discussion about public financing for congressional elections. Because even if we can stop lobbyists from buying us lunch or taking us out on junkets, they'll still be able to attend our fundraisers -- and that's access the average American doesn't have." --- Barack Obama, August 2, 2007 /*The money was slated to be used for a program that according to the mayor's own press release was going to cost $525,000 -- begging the question of why they wanted to remove $6 million from the fund: http://sfgov.org/site/mayor_index.asp?id=67895 /

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Send a msg. to save public financing for the mayor's race!
by Rob Arnow, Voter Owned Elections 06 May '09

06 May '09

Connoisseurs of grassroots democracy ~ We mounted an effective campaign a few years ago to institute public campaign financing for the mayoral race. Hundreds of you showed up at hearings, made phone calls, sent emails, and lobbied your elected officials. Now, we must act to ensure that this tranformational piece of legislation actually goes into effect, and is used by candidates for the first time in the 2011 mayoral race -- so that for the first time ever, San Francisco will have a chief executive elected without pressure to return favors to special interest contributors. The Budget Committee of the Board of Supervisors has the power to ensure funding for the program, and Supervisor John Avalos, as Chair of the Committee, has the power to ensure that the Committee supports the program. Fortunately, Supervisor Avalos signed our pledge, the San Francisco Clean Government Pledge <http://voterownedelections.org/pledge2008.html> during his race in 2008, which committed him to ensuring funding for the public financing program. But because of budgetary pressures, we don't want to take any chances. We need to thank Supervisor Avalos for his pledge, and let him know that we're paying attention to see that he makes good on his commitment. * Can you send an email and/or make a phone call, right away, thanking Supervisor Avalos for his pledge to fund public campaign financing and letting him know that you're counting on him to follow through on it? PLEASE BCC: info(a)voterownedelections.org or report any telephone calls.* Supervisor John Avalos Chair of the Budget & Finance Committee John.Avalos(a)sfgov.org (415) 554-6975 ------------------------ Write your own email if you can, or use/edit the template below -- SUBJECT: Thank you for your commitment to public campaign financing Supervisor Avalos, Thank your for supporting grassroots democracy in San Francisco by using public financing in your 2008 race. More importantly, I'd like to thank you for signing a pledge to ensure that future candidates have the same opportunity you did to run free from the influence of big money special interests. Though there are many budgetary pressures this year, public financing is one of the pillars of our democracy, ensuring fair, accountable and efficient government, for a very small price. To cut this program would be short-sighted and would cost our democracy greatly, both financially and otherwise, in the long term. We are counting on you to restore the public financing funding, should it not be included in the mayor's proposed budget. Thank you. ------------------------ On behalf of San Francisco's democracy, thanks for all you do. Rob Arnow -------------- San Franciscans for Voter Owned Elections www.voterownedelections.org 415-552-2229

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Fair Elections Now Act introduced in Congress!
by Rob Arnow, Voter Owned Elections 03 Apr '09

03 Apr '09

Citizens, Exciting news: just two days ago the Fair Elections Now Act was introduced in the U.S. congress! Here is a sampling of several articles that have appeared on the bill: *Wall Street Journal *http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123785115127819203.html * Washington Post* http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/23/AR200903230… *Bloomberg* http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a9W8cB7MZjjo *Huffington Post*, written by Craigslist founder http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-newmark/fair-elections-now-act-in_b_181… *Daily Kos* http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/3/21/11581/8080 *The Nation* http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090413/nyhart_donnelly The Fair Elections Now Act would provide the option of public financing for all candidates for U.S. House & Senate, finally freeing our elected officials to act in the public interest, rather than for the special interests. Should this bill pass, it would dramatically change how politics happens in the United States, and hence, the entire world. Being that 2nd in command Democrat in the Senate, Dick Durbin, and House Democratic Chair, John Larson, are both the lead Democratic sponsors, this bill has a real chance of passage. Please write your representatives, especially Speaker Pelosi, to express your support for this bill: http://www.commoncause.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&… More details at: www.commoncause.org/fairelectionsnowact <http://www.commoncause.org/fairelectionsnowact> ------------------ Rob Arnow 415-552-2229 ------------------- "I also believe that if we're serious about change, we need to have a real discussion about public financing for congressional elections. Because even if we can stop lobbyists from buying us lunch or taking us out on junkets, they'll still be able to attend our fundraisers -- and that's access the average American doesn't have." --- Barack Obama, August 2, 2007

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Fair Elections Now Act Introduced in Congress!
by Rob Arnow, Voter Owned Elections 03 Apr '09

03 Apr '09

Citizens, Exciting news: just two days ago the Fair Elections Now Act was introduced in the U.S. congress! Here is a sampling of several articles that have appeared on the bill: *Wall Street Journal *http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123785115127819203.html * Washington Post* http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/23/AR200903230… *Bloomberg* http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a9W8cB7MZjjo *Huffington Post*, written by Craigslist founder http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-newmark/fair-elections-now-act-in_b_181… *Daily Kos* http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/3/21/11581/8080 *The Nation* http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090413/nyhart_donnelly The Fair Elections Now Act would provide the option of public financing for all candidates for U.S. House & Senate, finally freeing our elected officials to act in the public interest, rather than for the special interests. Should this bill pass, it would dramatically change how politics happens in the United States, and hence, the entire world. Being that 2nd in command Democrat in the Senate, Dick Durbin, and House Democratic Chair, John Larson, are both the lead Democratic sponsors, this bill has a real chance of passage. Please write your representatives, especially Speaker Pelosi, to express your support for this bill: http://www.commoncause.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&… More details at: www.commoncause.org/fairelectionsnowact <http://www.commoncause.org/fairelectionsnowact> ------------------ Rob Arnow 415-552-2229 ------------------- "I also believe that if we're serious about change, we need to have a real discussion about public financing for congressional elections. Because even if we can stop lobbyists from buying us lunch or taking us out on junkets, they'll still be able to attend our fundraisers -- and that's access the average American doesn't have." --- Barack Obama, August 2, 2007

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On the radio tonight! 6-7pm
by Rob Arnow, Voter Owned Elections 20 Feb '09

20 Feb '09

Friends of democracy ~ Long time, no update. The first and most time-sensitive issue, is that I, along with Moira Brennan, from the California Clean Money Campaign, will on be on Pirate Cat Radio tonight, 87.9FM, which has a strong signal on the east side of San Francisco. Tune in from 6-7 pm to hear about the latest in publicly financed campaigns -- the federal bill, soon to be introduced by Senator Durbin, the state initiative to be on the June 2010 ballot, and local stuff. We'll talk about the past, present and future of this amazing reform that could finally fulfill the promise of a truly democratic society. As a brief update to our other efforts, several of you have been very helpful in getting me on agendas of Democratic clubs around town. I've had a great response everywhere I've been, and have gotten several letters from local organizations into Speaker Pelosi's office, encouraging her to prioritize this important reform. I will be continuing this work over the next couple of months, so please, if you're connected to a local group or Democratic Club, help me get on the agenda. It will truly make a difference! The latest groups to endorse the Fair Elections Now Act, the federal bill that would give congresspeople the option of public financing are: Democracy Action, Potrero Hill Democratic Club & Bernal Heights Democratic Club! Thanks, Rob Arnow -- Common Cause Fair Elections Now Act, Advocate 415-552-2229 More information on the Fair Elections Now Act: www.commoncause.org/fairelectionsnow <http://www.commoncause.org/fairelectionsnow> "I also believe that if we're serious about change, we need to have a real discussion about public financing for congressional elections. Because even if we can stop lobbyists from buying us lunch or taking us out on junkets, they'll still be able to attend our fundraisers -- and that's access the average American doesn't have." --- Barack Obama, August 2, 2007

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Clean Elections [Our Meeting with Pelosi and National Coverage!]
by Rob Arnow, Voter Owned Elections 15 Jan '09

15 Jan '09

Democracy aficionados ~ Read on for interesting developments about Clean Elections for Congress! We had a great meeting with Pelosi's office, and Change Congress has declared a donor strike, which got them some national media..... * MEETING WITH PELOSI* We had a great meeting with Speaker Pelosi's office a couple of weeks ago! Pelosi's staff was extremely positive about our presentation and the Fair Elections Now Act, and encouraged us to continue to build up support in San Francisco for the idea. We were informed that everything we'd done so far was impressive and would help our case greatly. In that vain, I'm still making presentations to different local groups and getting letters into the Speaker's office. Are you part of a group that would be interested in having me speak? If so, I'll be there. Let me know. In any case, please take the time to write the Speaker's office with our easy to use online tool: http://www.commoncause.org/CA/Speaker-FairElections * DONOR STRIKE! *Change Congress declared a donor strike against any congressperson who was unwilling to declare support for Clean Elections. With lots of donations coming from well-meaning small and large donors, whose good faith donations are nonetheless overwhelmed by those of special interests, this is an exciting idea, that caught the attention of nation media. Read the AP/MSNBC article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28569404/ Join the cause and check out their fancy new web site at change-congress.org * SATURDAY WORKING GROUP MEETING* This Saturday, the SF chapter of the California Clean Money Campaign will be meeting, and I'll be speaking about the Fair Elections Now Act. I'll arrive at 11am, though the meeting starts at 10am, if you're interested in finding out their plans for passing the June 2010 statewide ballot initiative, which would institute a pilot program of full public financing for Secretary of State offices. Here are the details for the meeting: WHEN: Sat, January 17th from 10:00am - 11:30am. I'm arriving at to speak at 11am. WHERE: 592 Pennsylvania Ave (A home on Potrero Hill between 20th & 22nd Streets) CA Clean Money SF Working Group Info: SF-info(a)CAclean.org Thanks! Rob -- Rob Arnow San Franciscans for Voter Owned Elections www.voterownedelections.org 415-552-2229 "I also believe that if we're serious about change, we need to have a real discussion about public financing for congressional elections. Because even if we can stop lobbyists from buying us lunch or taking us out on junkets, they'll still be able to attend our fundraisers -- and that's access the average American doesn't have." --- Barack Obama, August 2, 2007

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Will Obama Push Clean Elections? You Decide.
by Rob Arnow, Voter Owned Elections 13 Nov '08

13 Nov '08

Friends of democracy ~ Last week was filled with stunning victories for democracy in general, and for public campaign financing specifically. Read on to find out more and how we can really use your assistance at this crucial moment -- there's a lot happening!* **Did you know that President-Elect Obama is a co-sponsor of the Fair Elections Now Act, which would provide the option of full public financing for all congressional candidates?* Not only that, but he has also signed a pledge to make passage of this bill a priority in his administration! Even more exciting, is that his mentor in the Senate, Richard Durbin, is the Democratic sponsor of the bill, which means we may have some real wind in our sails. Now it's our job to make sure it really happens. As our allies at Common Cause are working in D.C to connect with Obama's transition team, *we have been tasked with helping get Speaker Pelosi excited about this bill*. Our grassroots efforts will help motivate the Speaker to make this a priority, along with people pushing from the D.C. side of things. *1. Who do you know that can influence Speaker Pelosi? *Can you set up a presentation at a local organization sometime over the next 4-8 weeks (any local organization)? I will be there. Are there specific groups or individuals that you think Pelosi would listen to? Let me know your thoughts! *2. Can you send an email to Speaker Pelosi right now using our easy online tool?* http://www.commoncause.org/CA/Speaker-FairElections /Some of you may remember that we were working to get Dianne Feinstein's support a few months ago. This has been tabled, as Feinstein seems to be moving off of the committee that will hear this issue. / * On the local level, we now have a majority of the members of Board of Supervisors who were elected using public financing, for the first time ever!* Even better, 5 of the members who were elected have signed our pledge to not raid the fund, and to support expansion to full public financing. Those Supervisors are: Eric Mar*, David Chiu, Ross Mirkarimi, David Campos and John Avalos. Along with our allies who were not facing re-election, we have a solid 6-vote majority! We are discussing plans for a ballot initiative to protect and expand the local program and we will keep you appraised of where that is shortly. In the mean time, we have to save the country! : ) *Final election results pending. Rob Arnow -- San Franciscans for Voter Owned Elections www.voterownedelections.org 415-552-2229

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Ken Garcia Strikes Again!
by Rob Arnow, Voter Owned Elections 29 Oct '08

29 Oct '08

Public campaign financing supporters ~ Yesterday, Ken Garcia, the ranting ideologue who writes a column for the Examiner, wrote his latest op-ed attacking the public campaign financing program in San Francisco. Of course, his arguments were empty, as usual, but it presents a great opportunity for us to get pro-public financing letters into the paper. *Can you take a few minutes to draft a letter to the editor?* If we get a few in, we'll usually get one or two printed. Here is a link to the article: http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/columns/ken_garcia/Guess_who_foots_bill_f… *Please send letters to letters(a)sfexaminer.com.* They should be around or less than 150 words. And you MUST put your name, address and phone number at the end of the letter since they usually call to verify your identity. *And here are some talking points you can use if you like: * *1.* Garcia implies that it's easy to qualify for public financing. In reality, out of 7 open seats, only 19 candidates have qualified. That's an average of less than 3 qualified candidates per race. To qualify, candidates must show community support by raising a large number of small donations. *2.* Public campaign financing levels the playing field and ensures that voters have the opportunity to make a decision based on the merits and ideas of the candidates, rather than their fundraising abilities. *3. *Campaign donations are a form of legalized bribery, wherein politicians are expected to give favors to their large donors. Public financing ensures that candidates are accountable to the public, rather than wealthy special interests. *4. *Both Barack Obama and John McCain are big supporters of public financing. McCain supported public funding in Arizona and Obama has co-sponsored a bill for public funding of congressional campaigns. *5. *Public financing SAVES money. The cost in San Francisco is currently capped at $2 million per year, but the cost of favors to contributors is far more. We just spent $700 billion in congress, in giveaways to large financial institutions, because of their power over the political process. Here are some local examples as well: http://voterownedelections.org/save_money.html Here is the letter that I sent: Editor ~ Ken Garcia implies in his recent column that just about anyone can get public funds to run for Supervisor. Nothing could be further from the truth. In order to qualify, candidates have to raise a large number of small donations to prove a wide base of public support. The sad fact is that it requires a lot of money to run for public office, and when candidates rely on massive amounts of private money, they are often expected to give inappropriate favors to their donors in exchange. In the absence of public financing, only candidates who are willing to do the bidding of well-funded special interests have a chance to compete. It's no wonder voters feel they have a government controlled by real estate speculators, oil industry executives and the like. I suspect this is why Garcia is against public campaign financing. He tends to believe that these wealthy special interests are somehow more responsible than the rest of us, and therefore, should be the ones calling the shots in government. I disagree. Rob Arnow 24 Lander St. San Francisco, CA 94114 415-596-5808 -- San Franciscans for Voter Owned Elections www.voterownedelections.org 415-552-2229

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