Price of Politics

*Letter to the editor

By Fred Winn, Placerville

Re "Political money talks - but gagging it could be worse," March 26: I was surprised to read the column by Dan Walters concerning a bill by Assemblywoman Loni Hancock proposing California clean money campaign legislation. I would like to believe that not all of our political representatives are corrupt, but there is no doubt in my mind that millions of dollars of special interest contributions have given us a corrupt government and is the major reason we are in a massive financial mess.

Our new governor said it right: "Money comes in, favors go out, the people lose."

Walters also neglected to state clean money laws have been very successful in Maine and Arizona. Clean money is optional for candidates.

If we want government to represent us, we need public financing. If not, we know who their constituents really are. Either way, citizens pay. Walters' solution would only bring us more corruption.

- Fred Winn, Placerville


See the article on Sacramento Bee website



(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)


California News

Our Letters & Op-Eds

Californians need to know who's paying for politics

San Gabriel Valley Tribune, by Letter to the Editor, 5/22/13

"Political ads are self-serving, but many of them don't even tell us who the "self" is... SB 52 would change that..."  Full story

Letters: The Politics of Corporations

Los Angeles Times, by John M. Goodman, 5/9/13

What is little known about the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision is that eight of the nine justices also said that disclosure of who is paying for ads is really important — first, so voters can properly weigh the arguments; second, so shareholders can know how their companies are spending their money . . .   Full story

National News

City and County News

Individual Statements

Other Electoral Reform





Make your voice heard: become a member! Fill out the form below.

Or, sign the petition (find out more).

BECOME A MEMBER

  

Help end special interest control of California with Clean Money

   

Join the California Clean Money Campaign to support the most important reform movement of our time!

Your membership will help us fight the undue influence of Big Money on California politics by educating the public on the need for the California DISCLOSE Act and for Clean Money, Fair Elections public funding of election campaigns so that politicians are accountable to voters, not Big Money donors.  You'll get:

• Regular updates on progress of the CA DISCLOSE Act.
• Joining other members to transform California’s political system!
Tax Deductible   Private and SecureAll contributions support our programs fighting the unfair influence of Big Money on politics.

1. Membership Level  
By Phone: (800) 566-3780   By Mail: Print Form

 

 

Annual Memberships - Support Clean Money for a full year

Regular Membership

$500

$250

$100

$75

$50

$35

$

Student, Senior, or
Limited Income

$15


Monthly Memberships - Help Clean Money even more by authorizing us to automatically charge your credit card or checking account monthly for the amount below.  Monthly contributions are the most valuable of all because they help provide a steady income for the whole year.  You may stop your monthly contributions at any time.

Sustaining Member

$75 monthly

$50 monthly

$25 monthly

$15 monthly

$ monthly

Founder's Circle Member

$1000 monthly

$500 monthly

$250 monthly

$100 monthly

$ monthly