Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger California Fair Elections Act Details How candidates qualify, funding amounts, matching funds, and total cost.

In what Center for Governmental Studies' President Bob Stern termed "the biggest political upset of the year in California", AB 583, the California Fair Elections Act (Hancock, D-Oakland), has now been signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger after having passed through the legislature on August 30th. A measure providing for "Fair Elections" public financing of campaigns for the office of Secretary of State as a pilot project will now appear on the June 8, 2010 ballot. Even one of the Assembly opponents of the bill had called its passage a "historic moment" in California.

After nearly $400 million was spent by candidates in California alone in the 2006 election, most observers thought it was highly unlikely that a public financing bill that would start to end the dominance of special interest campaign contributors would ever get passed and signed in Sacramento. But thousands of California voters who contacted their legislators and the efforts of AB 583 author Assemblymember Loni Hancock and Senate and Assembly leaders got it to the Governor's desk.

Governor Schwarzenegger made the problem of money in politics one of the focuses of his recall election campaign. As he said in a campaign commercial then, "Special interests have a stranglehold on Sacramento. Here's how it works. The money comes in. The favors go out. The people lose."

"We've always felt that Governor Schwarzenegger was likely to sign AB 583", said Julie Rajan, Executive Director of the California Clean Money Campaign, the sponsor of the bill. "He identified how much of a corrupting influence special interest money has on politics, and the California Fair Elections Act gave him an historic opportunity to start ending that influence by changing the way we finance election campaigns."

AB 583 would establish a pilot project for voluntary full public financing system for Secretary of State candidates in 2014 and 2018 if it is passed by a vote of the people on the June 2010 ballot. It is modeled after systems that have been working in Arizona and Maine for eight years and recently adopted by Connecticut and other localities.

"We applaud the Governor for signing this landmark Fair Elections bill," said Richard Holober, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California. "Consumers are the losers when big money donors dominate our elections. The Secretary of State's office is the ideal public financing pilot project because it is the office that guards the integrity of the electoral system. AB 583 makes sure that Secretary of State candidates have the option to use Fair Elections funding instead of raising campaign contributions from private sources who might try to influence them."

"AB 583 passed through the legislature thanks to the leadership of co-author Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland), floor jockey Senate President pro Tem-elect Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), and Clean Money supporters Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and former Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles)", said Trent Lange, President of the California Clean Money Campaign. "The Governor's signature shows that there is now bipartisan support in California for bringing Fair Elections public financing systems to California and exploring whether it can work as well here as it does in other states."

"There is bipartisan concern about the corrupting influence of money in politics", said former Assemblymember Keith Richman (R-Granada Hills). "The California Fair Elections Act is a historic opportunity for California to lead the nation in reform of the problem of special interest money in politics by showing that candidates who must compete for millions of votes can use Fair Elections funding to run for office on a level playing field without spending any private money."

"It's been a long and hard road", said AB 583 author Assemblymember Hancock, "But I am thrilled that the California Fair Elections Act will now be appearing on the June 2010 ballot, giving the people the opportunity to vote for a reform that is a critical step in helping restore the voters' confidence in government."

AB 583 is supported by a wide range of organizations, from good government groups like the League of Women Voters of California, California Common Cause, and CalPIRG to groups representing diverse Californian interests such as Sierra Club California, Consumer Federation of California, Equal Justice Society, California Nurses Association, California Teamsters, and Gray Panthers California.

Thanks Governor Schwarzenegger for siging AB 583!

Derek Cressman, Armando Viramontes, Trent Lange, and Hans Hemann sign "41" — the number of votes AB 583 needed — and got! — to pass the Assembly on the way to the Governor's office.  They're holding up the final historic vote tally. Assemblymember Loni Hancock and CCMC President Trent Lange celebrate after the victory. California Fair Elections Act Details How candidates qualify, funding amounts, matching funds, and total cost.

“Fair Elections” public financing of campaigns now will move to the Governor’s desk after AB 583, the California Fair Elections Act (Hancock, D-Oakland), passed out of the full Assembly on a concurrence vote Saturday by a vote of 42-32, despite heavy lobbyist opposition.  Even one of the Assembly opponents of the bill called it a “historic moment” in California.

AB 583 had passed the full Senate without a single vote to spare one day before on Friday, 21-18.

AB 583 would establish a pilot project for voluntary full public financing system for Secretary of State candidates in 2014 and 2018 if it is passed by a vote of the people on the June 2010 ballot.  It is modeled after the “Clean Money” systems that have been working in Arizona and Maine for eight years and recently adopted by Connecticut and other localities.  Connecticut’s new system is so popular that 95% of legislative candidates this year plan to use it.

“The Secretary of State makes a perfect pilot project for Fair Elections funding because it is the office that guards the very integrity of our electoral system”, said Julie Rajan, Executive Director of the California Clean Money Campaign, the sponsor of the bill.  “Secretary of State candidates, like all other candidates, have to spend huge amounts of time raising money for their campaigns from private contributors.  Californians would have more faith in their government if candidates could instead spend more time talking to voters instead.”

AB 583 is funded by voluntary contributions designated on state tax returns and by a registration fee of $350 a year on lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers, the same as in Illinois.  Because of this, the most vocal organizational opposition came from the Institute for Governmental Advocates, a trade association that lobbies for lobbyists.  They came out in force to try to stop the bill, even though California lobbyists currently only pay $12.50 a year, one of the lowest rates in the country and even though even barbers and cosmetologists pay higher license fees.

Three Democrats who had voted Yes before the bill was amended to be paid for by the increase in lobbyist registration fees switched their votes.

“Fortunately the intense opposition to AB 583 by the lobbyists’ lobbyists wasn’t enough to kill Fair Elections after the legislature saw that over 30,000 people had signed the petition for AB 583 and over 1,000 people had called or written asking them to pass it”, said Trent Lange, President of the California Clean Money Campaign.  “A majority of the legislature saw that this was a case of lobbyists vs.  the people, and they did the right thing.”

He continued, “Assembly Speaker Karen Bass joined AB 583 co-author Senate President pro-Tem Don Perata and Senate President pro Tem-elect Darrell Steinberg in demonstrating strong leadership by moving this bill to the Governor’s desk.”

Governor Schwarzenegger made the problem of money in politics one of the focuses of his recall election campaign.  As he said in a campaign commercial then, “Special interests have a stranglehold on Sacramento.  Here’s how it works.  The money comes in.  The favors go out.  The people lose.”

“Governor Schwarzenegger is right that the people lose with the current system of campaign financing”, said Derek Cressman, Western States Regional Director of Common Cause.  “Now he has the opportunity to let the people decide if they want to try a better way.”

All but five Democrats voted for the bill in the Assembly and all but four Demcorats voted for it in the Senate.  No Republicans voted for it.

The next step is the Governor's desk, but no bills are moving to his desk yet because he's said that he won't sign any bills until the legislature passes a budget.  Stay tuned for what you can do to encourage him to sign it when it's time and sign the petition for AB 583 if you haven't yet.

Find out how your Senator and Assemblymember voted and send them an email thanking them for helping pass AB 583 — or expressing your disappointment if they didn't!

A portion of the nearly 80 Clean Money supporters from around the state wait their turn to testify at the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing.  A few lobbyists — not used to seeing this many regular people at hearings — sit in the foreground. The lineup continues around the corner.  Appropriations Chair Tom Torlakson said there were so many people that he almost thought that "people were going out one door and coming in another". AB 583 author Assemblymember Loni Hancock addresses some of the supporters who made the trip to Sacramento after the hearing.  CCMC President Trent Lange is to her right. Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) gives CCMC President Trent Lange, Alan Beek, Vern Nelson, and Dave Sonneborn a tour of the Senate floor after Dave, Alan, and Vern drove all the way up from Orange County for the hearing.  Senator Correa will be a critical vote on the Senate floor. California Fair Elections Act Details How candidates qualify, funding amounts, matching funds, and total cost.

The full State Senate will soon have the opportunity to make history in California by passing “Clean Money, Fair Elections” public financing of campaigns after AB 583, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act (Hancock, D-East Bay), was voted out of the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday on a 9-6 party-line vote.

AB 583 would establish a voluntary full public financing system for Secretary of State candidates modeled after the systems that have been working in Arizona and Maine for eight years.  AB 583 has now been amended to be funded by voluntary contributions designated on state tax returns and by a registration fee of $350 a year on lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers, the same as in Illinois.  Currently lobbyists only pay $25 every two years in California, one of the lowest rates in the country.

Secretary of State candidates, like all other candidates, have to spend huge amounts of time raising money for their campaigns from private contributors.  Concern about the influence of such private contributors is why polls consistently show that nearly two-thirds of Californians believe that California is run for the benefit of a few big special interests, rather than for people like them.  Californians would have more faith in their government if candidates could instead spend more time reaching out to voters and discussing issues that matter to them.

Sponsored by the California Clean Money Campaign, AB 583 is supported by a wide range of organizations, from good government groups like the League of Women Voters of California, California Common Cause, and CALPIRG to groups representing diverse Californian interests such as Sierra Club California, the Consumer Federation of California, the Equal Justice Society, the California Nurses Association, the California Teamsters, the William C.  Velasquez Institute, and Gray Panthers California.  Over 80 regular voters from as far as Orange County drove to Sacramento testify at the hearing on Monday.

Serious organizational opposition comes from the Institute for Governmental Advocates, an organization that lobbies for lobbyists.

As we’ve spent time in the Capitol, however, the interesting thing is that a number of individual lobbyists have approached us and told us that they wouldn’t mind paying higher fees if it would allow public financing for Secretary of State candidates.  Generally speaking, the less wealthy the interests a lobbyist represents, the more willing they seem to be to pay a higher fee.

As Elizabeth Sholes, Director of Public Policy for California Church IMPACT, said, “Protests from the Institute for Governmental Advocates to prevent legislators from supporting AB 583 and clean election financing are absurd.  We are a most modestly-funded advocacy organization, and we find the proposed fee quite acceptable.  It's unconscionable that well-paid California lobbyists with well-to-do clients do not want to pay what lobbyists pay in other states.  AB 583 will level the playing field and make it easier for Secretary of State candidates who do not have wealthy backers to run.”

Clean Money is popular in the states that have it.  Arizona and Maine started public-financing state elections 8 years ago.  85% of Arizonans familiar with their Clean Elections system believe it is important to Arizona voters.  Connecticut’s legislature passed a Clean Money bill in 2006 that is so popular that 215 out of 225 candidates have indicated they will use it.  North Carolina, New Mexico, and New Jersey all have Clean Money pilot programs.

Assemblymember Loni Hancock, Senate Elections Chair Ron Calderon, Senate Appropriations Chair Tom Torlakson, and AB 583 co-author Senate President pro Tem Don Perata have all taken a bold step towards achieving Californians’ wishes to explore an alternative to the way we finance election campaigns.  With their support and the support of other Senators on the Senate floor, we’ll be one step closer to truly fair elections in California.

Senators Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles) and Dean Florez (D-Bakersfield) made the difference in the committee.  They joined AB 583 co-authors Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro), Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles), Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach), Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) and previous Clean Money co-authors Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) and Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) in voting Yes on AB 583.

Speaking after the Committee vote, Assemblymember Hancock said, “It has been a long and hard road, but I am deeply pleased that AB 583 is now moving to the Senate Floor.  This reform is a critical step to helping restore the voters’ confidence in government and I trust that the rest of my colleagues in the Senate will recognize its necessity.”

The over 30,000 people who’ve signed the petition for AB 583 and the hundreds of thousands of Californians represented by the nearly 300 organizations that have endorsed Clean Money would agree.

Write Senate President pro Tem Don Perata thanking him for his support and urging him to get AB 583 all the way through the Senate!

Senate Elections Committee hearing room where AB 583 was heard, with Clean Money supporters looking on.  Assemblymember Loni Hancock testified along with Trent Lange, President of CCMC, Trudy Schafer from the League of Women Voters of California, Stephanie Roberson from the California Nurses Association, and Ronda Paschal on behalf of Secretary of State Debra Bowen — followed by statements of support from 35 other organizations or Clean Money supporters from around the state. Listen to the hearing! Nearly 40 supporters who came to the hearing pose in a victory group photo with Assemblymember Loni Hancock after the Elections committee victory. CCMC co-founder and chairman Jo Seidita, CCMC President Trent Lange, and AB 583 author Assemblymember Loni Hancock after the vote. Supporters stop by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass' office to drop off petitions for AB 583 and thank her for her support of Clean Money.  CCMC Executive Director Julie Rajan is at the right, along with Speaker Bass' Deputy Chief of Staff Rick Simpson.

We did it!  This morning, AB 583, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act, authored by Assemblymember Loni Hancock and sponsored by CCMC, passed through the Senate Elections Committee on a 3-2 vote.  Democratic Senators Ron Calderon, Jenny Oropeza, and Carole Migden voted for it and Republican Senators Jim Battin and Dave Cogdill voted against it.

Yesterday's vote was a historic one for campaign finance reform and Clean Money legislation in California:  It was the first time in almost three decades that a public financing bill has advanced this far through the legislature.  The bill already passed the Assembly last year.

LONG LIST OF SUPPORTERS
Secretary of State Debra Bowen supports the measure, now a pilot project for Secretary of State races in 2014.  As Ronda Paschal, speaking for Secretary Bowen at the hearing, said, "If this measure is implemented, it will mean that candidates for the Secretary of State can spend less time fundraising and more time reaching out to voters and discussing issues that matter to them."

Representatives of good government groups testifying at the hearing were joined by nearly 40 Clean Money activists from all parts of the state who spoke in favor of the bill's passage.  The Senate Elections Committee also received letters of support for AB 583 from groups ranging from Sierra Club California, the Consumer Federation of California, the California National Organization for Women, the California Nurses Assocation, and Gray Panthers California to social justice organizations such as the Equal Justice Society, William C Velasquez Institute, the Mexican America Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and California Church Impact.

The committee members took notice of the nearly 40 volunteers who came from all over the state in support of the bill, some of them driving overnight from as far away as Southern California.  The record this time goes to Allan Beek, a Republican who drove all the way up from Orange County.  The huge lineup of supporters who got up to the microphone and said they supported the bill clearly had an impact again.

LOBBYING SENATORS AFTERWARDS
Afterwards, our activists went through the Capitol building to lobby State Senators or their staffs on the bill to show everybody how committed Clean Money supporters are and that we're watching what they do.  The group of Joni Eisen, Lauren Wechsler, and Jeff Diamond from San Francisco spoke with State Senator Leland Yee and got his commitment to co-author the bill on the spot.

The next step for AB 583 is in the Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Clean Money supporter State Senator Tom Torlakson.  If it passes through Appropriations, which it has to do by August, then it would be on to the Senate Floor.  Both will be major fights given this year's tough budget environment, and we'll be needing all the help we can get.

HONOR ROLL OF SUPPORTERS
Many thanks to all you who wrote letters, made phone calls, or otherwise helped the bill.  It wouldn't have made it through the committee without you!

And now the honor roll of supporters who had the greatest impact of all by taking a day to the capitol itself to make themselves heard by lining up and stating their support:  Craig Dunkerley, Herb Engstrom, Nancy Meuller, Lawrence Aronson, Nancy Neff, Bill Walzer, Rick Bettis, Joni Eisen, Sean Clancy, Lauren Wechsler, TJ Firpo, Tom Humphreys, Joe Ely, Suzanne Llewellyn, Judy Cox, Ralph Wheeler, Patricia Gray, Carol Cross, Dick Lagerstrom, Barbara Lagerstrom, Darcy Crossman, Jeff diamond, Brenda White, Robin Gilbert, Lee Frank, Sara Nichols, Moira Brennan, Greg Brockbank, Allan Beek, and Craig Peterson.  Clean Money supporters everywhere in California owe you one!  Of course, everybody seemed to have a good time!

AB 2552, IE DISCLOSURE BILL, ALSO PASSES
Another good piece of news was that AB 2552 (Krekorian), sponsored by California Common Cause, also passed the committee.  AB 2552, which is endorsed by CCMC, would make it harder for special interests to hide behind deceptive names when they attack or support candidates or try to affect ballot campaigns.  (See the Elections Committee analysis.)

Stay tuned for action alerts on how you can help AB 583 get through the Senate Appropriations committee coming soon.  This will be an even tougher committee, so we'll all have to work together if it's going to have a chance!  nbsp; But for now, we're savoring the victory of moving Clean Money another step forward.

Write Senate President pro Tem Don Perata thanking him for his support and urging him to get AB 583 all the way through the Senate!

Susan Lerner (CCMC Executive Director), Armando Viramontes (Assemblymember Hancock's staffer for AB 583), and Trent Lange (CCMC Vice President) celebrate after the late night victory. California Fair Elections Act Details How candidates qualify, funding amounts, matching funds, and total cost.

Late last night, by a vote of 45-34, our amended Clean Money pilot bill (AB 583) passed the full Assembly!  This is giant step forward for a bill that will provide California and the nation with a model for reform towards fair elections and accountable government.

IT WOULDN'T HAVE PASSED WITHOUT THE HELP OF ACTIVISTS LIKE YOU
Thanks to the literally thousands of you who signed the petition, wrote letters, faxed, called, and packed all the hearings.  It was another outpouring of support for fair elections they couldn't ignore!

Support from coalition partners who believe in Clean Money was also key, with Public Campaign, California Sierra Club, the Greenlining Institute, the William C. Velasquez Institute, and MALDEF especially coming through in the final days this week on the bill that was also helped along by our allies at California Common Cause and the League of Women Voters of California.  You can see the entire impressive list of Clean Money supporters on our website.  (If your group isn't on it and would like to be, let us know!)

No less important was the leadership of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, who once again helped propel Clean Money through the Assembly along with Appropriations Chair and AB 583 co-author Assemblymember Mark Leno.  The tenacious efforts of AB 583 author and Clean Money champion Assemblymember Loni Hancock was also recognized by the other Assemblymembers who rose to speak in favor of AB 583 on the Assembly floor.

All but two Democrats in the State Assembly voted yes on the measure. The measure received no aye votes from Republicans. The sole Democrats to vote against the measure were Assemblymembers Nicole Parra (D-Bakersfield) and Cathleen Galgiani (D-Merced).

AB 583 NOW A CLEAN PILOT PROJECT WITH SERIOUS RESULTS
The version of AB 583 that passed is a pilot project that will provide full Clean Money public financing for the office of Governor and one open Assembly and State Senate seat in 2010.

Modeled after successful systems in Arizona and Maine, AB 583 will allow Californians the opportunity to vote for a gubernatorial candidate in 2010 who hasn't accepted any money from special interests, as well as serving as a pilot program that will allow California voters and candidates to see how a Clean Money system would actually work in California.  After which, they'll almost certainly demand it for all state offices.

As Assemblymember Jared Huffman said describing why we need Clean Money while rising to speak in support of the bill:

"Anyone who thinks that taxpayers are not already paying the price for this broken political system, this money dominated political system, is kidding themselves... The taxpayers are paying a hidden tax because of this money dominated system."

WHAT'S NEXT FOR AB 583
Now that AB 583 has passed out of the full Assembly, it moves on to the State Senate where it will begin in the Senate Elections Committee.  The timing of when it will go to that committee has not been set yet, but we'll keep you informed.

Between now and then, we must continue to build support for the bill and add more Senate co-authors.  Stay tuned for future updates and alerts on how you can help.

Thanks again for all your tremendous support.  It is making sure everybody in Sacramento knows that Californians are demanding a change so that voters can finally take control of politics.  This successful vote in the Assembly shows that together we can make it happen!

Write your Assemblymembers to thank them for voting Yes on AB 583!
(or telling them you're disappointed they voted no)

Assembly Appropriations Chair Mark Leno, co-author of AB 583.

Last Thursday, an amended version of the Clean Money and Fair Elections Act of 2007 (AB 583) was voted out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee by a vote of 12 to 5. The bill now moves on for a vote of the full Assembly, most likely on Wednesday. If enacted, the amended version of AB 583 (Hancock, D-East Bay) would create voluntary, fully-funded public financing for the 2010 Governor's race, one open Assembly seat, and one open Senate seat.

In its amended form, AB 583 will serve as a pilot program and allow California voters and candidates to see how a Clean Money system would actually work in California. "We applaud Appropriations Chair Mark Leno and Assemblymember Hancock for adopting this creative answer to the question of whether a system which works so well in Arizona and Maine can be properly scaled for California. We know that it can, and we are excited about the possibility of testing the system on the offices which the public feels are primary magnets for outsized campaign contributions. AB 583 will help restore faith in California's government," said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of the California Clean Money Campaign.

Clean Money systems have been adopted across the country; Arizona and Maine started public-financing state elections 7 years ago, Connecticut's legislature passed a Clean Money bill last year, North Carolina provides public financing for judicial races, and New Mexico just instituted a similar system for its judicial elections. New Mexico also established a pilot Clean Money program for elections for its Public Regulations Commission, while New Jersey has a pilot program for public financing of three legislative districts.

Speaking after the Committee vote, Assemblymember Hancock said, "AB 583 is an effective way for the public to test how well the full public funding of campaigns system runs.  AB 583 will go a long way to restoring faith in our campaign financing system."

Write your Assemblymembers urging them to vote Yes on AB 583!

Senate President pro Tem Don Perata, new co-author of AB 583.

California Senate President pro Tem Don Perata just became a co-author of AB 583, the Clean Money bill!

The President pro Tem joins an ever-growing list of Legislators who are co-authors of AB 583, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act.  Clean Money supporters in Senator Perata's Oakland district and throughout California should be proud because it was your calls, letters, and petitions that convinced him to sign on as a active Clean Money supporter.

At yesterday's Assembly Appropriations Committee hearing, dozens of CCMC activists traveled to Sacramento to speak in support of AB 583.  They heard CCMC Executive Director Susan Lerner join AB 583 author Loni Hancock and representatives from Secretary of State Debra Bowen and the League of Women Voters of California to testify for the bill.  Committee Chair Mark Leno spoke eloquently on Clean Money and Committee members Fiona Ma, Ted Lieu and Jared Huffman publicly voiced their desire to be co-authors.

AB 583 is now on the "suspense" file of the Appropriations Committee, a standard procedure for bills that have a budget allocation.  We have until about the end of May to convince Assembly leaders to pass it out of the committee and move it to the Assembly floor.

You can help now by:

Write Senator Perata to thank him for becoming a co-author.

Write your Assemblymembers urging them to support the Clean Money Act.

Assemblymember Loni Hancock, AB 583's author, speaks at press conference for AB 583 before Assembly Elections Committee hearing.  Susan Lerner, Executive Director of the California Clean Money Campaign and former Republican Congressmember Pete McCloskey also spoke in favor, along with representatives from California Common Cause, the League of Women Voters of California, the Greenlining Institute, and Sierra Club California. Photo courtesy of volunteer Dale Mead. Special Assistant to the Speaker George Wiley speaks with gathered Clean Money supporters about AB 583 on the Assembly Floor.  Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez was a major supporter of AB 583 last year. Photo courtesy of volunteer Jeff Whittington. Thirty Clean Money supporters surround Senate President pro tem Don Perata outside his office to talk to him about AB 583. Photo courtesy of volunteer Dale Mead. Supporters hand Senate President pro tem Perata signed Clean Money $5 flyers.  Senator Perata told the assembled supporters that he'd co-author the bill. Photo courtesy of volunteer Dale Mead.

On Tuesday, AB 583, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act, passed through the Assembly Elections committee on a vote of 5-2.

Former Republican Congressman Pete McCloskey, who testified at the hearing, made a powerful statement to the committee members:

"We’ve reached the conclusion that power corrupts and that money corrupts. And it’s destroyed the respect of you gentlemen and ladies in your profession, and what used to be my profession. Because they think we’re bought". He continued, "I think respect for the profession of being a legislator requires public financing."

The committee members also took notice of the great number of volunteers who made the trek from all over the state in support of the bill, some of them driving overnight from as far away as Southern California. The huge lineup of supporters who got up to the microphone and said they supported the bill was so impressive that it clearly had an effect on at least one critical committee member whose vote we needed. Once again those of you who came to Sacramento or supported AB 583 in other ways made the difference!

Our activists also fanned out through the Capitol building to lobby Assemblymembers or their staffs on the bill, a couple of them actually getting promises from Assemblymembers to co-author the bill. But not before mass marches over to Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senate President pro tem's offices to show support and drop off signed $5 flyers for AB 583.

Best of all was that our group of about thirty people (all wearing their "Clean Money - Sweeping Reform" buttons) managed to talk to Senate President pro tem Perata himself in the hall outside his office. Perhaps remembering the literally thousands of people who contacted him about AB 583 last year, he told the crowd that "Yes, I'll become a co-author of the bill". We don't know that he's signed on the dotted line yet, but his become a co-author and actively supporting the bill would an extremely important development.

The next step for AB 583 is in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, chaired by longtime Clean Money supporter Assemblymember Mark Leno. If it passes through Appropriations, which it has to do by the first week of June, then it would be on to the Assembly Floor. Both will be major fights given this year's tough budget environment, and we'll be needing all the help we can get.

SB 536 Made a Two-Year Bill
In other news, SB 536, the bill by State Senator Joe Simitian that would provide public financing for candidates for Insurance Commissioner, was made into a two-year bill, as was done with AB 583 two years ago. This is an intriguing bill because it could act as an inexpensive pilot project for Clean Money using an office that obviously needs it. It's clearly preferable to have the public pay for Insurance Commissioner campaigns than to have the insurance companies who are supposed to be regulated pay for them.

Turning this into a two-year bill is a positive development, because it gives us an opportunity to focus on AB 583, to work with Senator Simitian to make needed improvements to the bill, and educate the Senate Insurance Committee members on why they should vote for it.

Stay tuned for action alerts on how you can help AB 583 get through the Assembly Appropriations committee coming soon. This will be an even tougher committee, so we'll all have to work together if it's going to have a chance!

Assemblymember Loni Hancock (D-East Bay), author of AB 583

Clean Money champion Assemblymember Loni Hancock (D-East Bay) has just re-introduced AB 583, now entitled the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act of 2007. As with last year's AB 583, the new AB 583 would provide full public financing of campaigns to all statewide and legislative offices in California using a Clean Money system similar to the highly successful Clean Elections system used in Arizona and Maine, but scaled up and modified to work for California's greater size.

Last year's AB 583 was the first public financing bill in years to make it through the state Assembly after a groundswell of support from Clean Money activists and supporters around the state like you. This year's AB 583 starts off with four co-authors: Assemblymembers Patty Berg, Dave Jones, Gene Mullin, and Alberto Torrico. More will be signing on soon.

Also exciting is the news that State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) will be introducing a pilot project bill, SB 536, to set up a Clean Money system for the Insurance Commissioner.

We will keep all of you up to date on the progress of these bills and how you can help.

FIGHT FOR CLEAN MONEY CONTINUES!

Senate President pro tem Don Perata comes out to meet the fifty Clean Money supporters who came to his office.  Pictures by Mike Durkin of the San Francisco working group.

Our Clean Money bill (AB 583) was scheduled for a vote in the Senate Elections Committee. Unfortunately, the bill was pulled at the last moment.

Senator Gloria Romero (D-Baldwin Park) was reportedly not ready to vote for AB 583. Her vote was critical for the message's passage, so Assemblymember Hancock and Senate Elections Chair Debra Bowen (D-Marina Del Rey) decided to delay the vote to give us more time to work with the committee and Senate leadership to strengthen the bill.

Following the unexpected announcement, over fifty Californians who had traveled to Sacramento from all around the state to testify in favor of the bill marched over to Senate President pro tem Don Perata's office to ask for his clarification on the import of the delay, literally staging a sit-in until he came out to address them. Senator Perata soon after came out and had a cordial discussion with the crowd. He once again pledged his support for the measure and for public funding of election campaigns.

Senate Elections Chair Debra Bowen addresses some of the crowd of supporters who came from around the state for the vote that was postponed.

It is disappointing that Senator Romero is not yet ready to vote for AB 583. We are glad to have additional time to address her concerns. Clean Money has substantial support in diverse communities throughout the state, including among Latino communities and groups and we hope that Senator Romero will become a leader in supporting this necessary campaign innovation which has had positive effects for Latino communities and candidates in Arizona.

We are also pleased that Senate President pro tem Perata seems to understand how much Clean Money is needed to make our democratic system more accessible to ordinary citizens and stated his desire to help bring the strongest form of Clean Money possible to California.

Clarence Thomas, Tory Griffith, and numerous other Clean Money supporters await an explanation of what happened.

We would like to thank all our supporters who along with members of Common Cause, League of Women Voters, Public Campaign, MoveOn, and other organizations inundated Senator Perata’s office with faxes and phone calls this week. Senator Perata's fax machine was running literally day and night with over 600 faxes sent using our online letter-writing tool, and his Sacramento and Oakland offices received literally thousands of phone calls.

We also would like to especially thank all the people who traveled from across the state for the hearing. Your dedication never ceases to amaze and inspire us.

Finally, let us be clear that AB 583 is still very much alive and that the fight to bring Clean Money to California continues. Your collective efforts have brought us to where we are today. Clean Money is emerging on California’s political horizon, but we will only get there by working together and continuing to build grassroots support!

The first Senate hearing on our Clean Money bill, AB 583, was held in the Senate Elections Committee on Wednesday. There was a fabulous turnout from Clean Money supporters, with nearly 100 people from around the state packing the hearing room and even the hall outside.

Assemblymember Loni Hancock, author of AB 583, led off the testimony. Marc Spitzer, the cleanly- elected Republican Chair of the Corporations Commission in Arizona, followed with testimony about how well the system works to free up candidates and elected officials from relying on lobbyists and how it is reigniting the faith of both the voters and even the candidates in Arizona's democracy.

Susan Lerner, the executive director of the California Clean Money Campaign, Paul Turner of the Greenlining Institute, Willie Pelote of AFSCME, and actor and activist Peter Coyote, who is currently playing the Vice President on ABC's "Commander in Chief", rounded out an impressively convincing panel.

Peter Coyote summed up the sentiments of many when he said "there's nothing more important we can do to have a fully fuctional democracy than to have the people fund the electoral process."

See key clips from the panel members

NEXT IN THE COMMITTEE
Senators on the committee did raise a number of different concerns about the bill, which Assemblymember Hancock and the California Clean Money Campaign will be working to address both with amendments and by providing more research results before AB 583 comes back for a vote in the committee. This sort of feedback from engaged legislators is one of the major benefits of going through the legislature and has already led to significant improvements in the bill.

We are cautiously optimistic that we will be able to address enough of the committee members' concerns that AB 583 will pass Elections before moving on to its next step in the Senate Appropriations committee.

Senate President pro tem Don Perata apparently shares those sentiments, releasing a statement to his constituents after the hearing saying "I support AB 583. I look forward to it coming up for a vote and being approved by the Elections Committee at an upcoming hearing. There is much work ahead, but I am hopeful for a positive outcome."

Clearly Senator Perata and others in the Senate have heard loud and clear the message from of all of you who wrote, faxed, called, and signed the petition for AB 583. Those of you who came to Sacramento to pack the halls and lobby our senators should be particularly proud of yourselves. Senator Perata himself took note, commenting on how "The committee hearing room was filled with Californians who had traveled to the Capitol from all parts of the Golden State." His vision and leadership will be crucial to AB 583's success in the Senate, just as Speaker Fabian Nunez' leadership was crucial in the Assembly.

On Monday, January 30th, our Clean Money bill, AB 583, passed the full California Assembly by a vote of 47-31. With the help of our active supporters and coalition partners we are defying the odds and pushing California further down the path towards fair elections and accountable government.

Thanks to all those who wrote letters, faxed, called, and especially those of you who came from all across the state to pack the Assembly hearings. Incredibly, over 1,000 of you sent letters or faxes to your Assemblymembers using our new online letter-writing system. Hundreds of more called. Your accumulated efforts and those of our partners and concerned citizens everywhere generated an amazing groundswell of public support that led to this historic victory on the road to Clean Money for California.

Assemblymember Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) gave dramatic testimony to how effective our coalition has been when she rose in support of AB 583 during the floor debate and said, “Everywhere I go in the community people ask about this bill... In fact I would say that it is the one bill this session that has gotten the most interest from across the board...”

In his weekly radio address after the vote, Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez took the opportunity to praise his fellow Democrats for supporting AB 583: “[A] dark cloud looms over our Capitol. That cloud is the public perception that our policy process is tainted by the escalating arms race for campaign funds. That's why I was so proud that Democrats stood up and voted to clean up our election system with a new clean money bill... Assembly Democrats believe that clean money for clean elections is an idea whose time has come.”

Thank you to one and all who made this historic triumph possible!