The movement for democracy in California is really picking up steam, with two exciting events this weekend – Saturday in Garden Grove, and Sunday in Laguna Woods. I’ll definitely be at at least one of them! Without further ado, the press release. (Gotta run, got a gig…)
MEDIA ADVISORY:
(CONTACT: Heidi Pickman, 310-382-0211)
Immediate Release
Orange County Residents Say
No to Elections Bought By Special Interests;
Yes to Elections by Voters, and
Yes to Proposition 15, the California Fair Elections ActHost Reverend Minh Hanh Nuguen and Assemblymember Hector De La Torre join Central Orange County Community Leaders on Saturday – Laguna Woods Mayor Milt Robbins, Irvine Mayor Pro Tem Larry Agran, and Geri Jenkins, RN, Co-President of the California Nurses Association, to Support Proposition 15, California Fair Elections Act on June ballot.
Garden Grove, Laguna Woods – On Saturday, February 27, Host Reverend Minh Hanh Nuguen and Assemblymember Hector De La Torre will join community leaders for a Central-West Orange County kickoff for Proposition 15, the California Fair Elections Act which will be on the June 2010 ballot. On Sunday, February 28, Laguna Woods Mayor Milt Robbins, Irvine Mayor Pro Tem Larry Agran, and Geri Jenkins, RN, Co-President of the California Nurses Association will join community leaders for a South Orange County kickoff.
Fair Elections Campaign Chairman Trent Lange will give participants an overview of the California Fair Elections Act, describe how the system works, and answer all of your questions. The Central-West Orange County-area officials will voice their support for the ballot initiative that will change the way elections are financed so elected officials can focus their time on governing, not raising money for their next election. Leaders will also engage community members in building local support for the measure. Attendees will get involved in breakout sessions to participate actively in this campaign.
All are welcome at the event, which will highlight the majority support the Act enjoys throughout the State from registered Republicans, Democrats and Independent voters. The Campaign Kickoff is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
What: Central-West Orange County Campaign Kickoff for California Fair Elections Act Ballot Measure
Where: St. Anselm’s Episcopal Church, 13091 Galway Street, Garden Grove, CA 92844-1633
When: Saturday February 27, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Or
What: South Orange County Campaign Kickoff for California Fair Elections Act Ballot Measure
Where: Laguna Woods Village, Clubhouse 3, Dining Room 1, 23822 Avenida Sevilla, Laguna Woods, CA 92637
When: Sunday February 28, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Who: ALL ARE WELCOME! Community members are asked to RSVP to www.YesOnProp15.org.
Why: Californians are outraged by the amount of money in politics and registered California voters agree by nearly a two-thirds majority that our elected officials need to spend time legislating, not fundraising to become re-elected.
The California Fair Elections Act changes the way we finance election campaigns so politicians stay focused on the job we sent them to accomplish. From schools, to water, to health care, California has many serious problems to fix. The California Fair Elections Act will enable elected officials to stay focused on our priorities, rather than spending all their time fundraising.
Written by Sen. Loni Hancock (D – Oakland) and signed by Governor Schwarzenegger, Proposition 15 (the California Fair Elections Act) would create a voluntary, publicly-funded pilot program for Secretary of State campaigns in 2014 and 2018, and it includes a funding provision that avoids burdening the general public with any additional taxes for this purpose.
Endorsers include: AARP, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), California Clean Money Campaign, California Common Cause, California Primary Care Association, California Nurses Association, Consumer Federation of California, Equal Justice Society, League of Women Voters of California, Sierra Club, and many more sponsors can be seen at www.YesOnProp15.org/endorsers.
# # #
Proposition 15, California Fair Elections Act
Should be called:
Another free ride for politicians on the backs of taxpayers.
Cook, you didn’t even check it out.
It pays for the election of the Secretary of State with FEES FROM LOBBYISTS – who pay practically no fees now.
Way off the mark again.
Thanks for the news. I’ll be in Garden Grove on Saturday. If we fix this issue, many of our problems will be much easier to address. Fair elections are a great investment!
Vern – I find it interesting that the biggest advocates for Prop 15 are those that would benefit.
Publicly financed elections would basically give the media veto power over who gets elected. In Europe they have this system and the government has used it to regulate political speech.
I see this as an attack on free speech – trying to get big money out of politics is impossible. Why not make them list their donors on their websites in real time? That would work really well!
Vern,
Prop 15 is another theft of tax dollars.
It pays for the elections, “the candidates costs“, from taxpayer funds. hoping that a fee (an uncollectible fee) will recover the tax payer funds.
Just like the 3 dollars check off on tax returns for the public funding of presidential election. The fund is broke, the taxpayers still pay, and it has not stopped the free flow of dollars into presidential elections.
Look at the list of supporters, it is a list of special interests, all who are on the government (taxpayers) payroll, either with direct cash payments, or special tax breaks like being non-profit.
Vern, Up date on our telephone call.
Other states
Courts in Arizona and Vermont have struck down similar statutes that required lobbyists to pay fees to fund political campaigns on the grounds that placing these requirements on lobbyists was an “impermissible burden” on their First Amendment rights.
This is all I have.
I would vote yea, if the funding part will pass constitutional muster.
Responses to #4 here: http://orangejuiceblog.com/2010/03/prop-15-a-retort-to-seargeant-york/
and to #5 and 6 here: http://orangejuiceblog.com/2010/03/prop-15-allaying-cooks-concerns-over-lobbyist-fees/