Clean Elections for Clean Legislation
If you file for candidacy by noon, you'd better be on the phone by 4pm raising funds. Of course, that's almost too late. Experienced candidates have lined up donors long before they actually filed for office.
If you are lucky enough to be running in a clean election state, you can choose to be a Clean Election candidate and start talking to voters immediately!
The privately-funded candidate must continue to raise funds on a daily basis. Rather than campaigning on issues and speaking with voters - the privately funded candidate spends much of their time at fundraisers and speaking with potential donors.
Clean Election Legislators, State Senators and Governor owe no favors to special interests or campaign funders. Clean Elections saves taxpayer money, controls the cost of campaigns and increases voter participation. Clean elections are more competitive and gives the voters more choice.
"The simple truth is that campaigning is expensive, and candidates will get the money someplace. Far better that the public, not special interests, put up the bucks." - USA Today editorial
Clean Elections is working
Maine, Arizona, North Carolina, New Mexico, Vermont, New Jersey, and Connecticut have all implemented some version of Clean Elections. In each case, grassroots movements began as ballot initiatives and were voted into law by citizens, not the legislature. Massachusites voters are currently being thwarted by a legislature who refuses to fund the law that the citizens passed.
Maine and Arizona have had Clean Elections for enough cycles to see the most dramatic results. Not only are non-millionaire citizens running, but even incumbants are understanding that to get reelected in the new system, they have to be beholden to their constituents - not special interests. Electing Clean Candidates is translating into effective legislation affecting real people and our issues.
Follow the Money
If you really doubt that special interests actually buy elections, I challenge you to go to
FollowTheMoney.org and click on your state. Take a look at how much it cost to elect your current governor and who spent that money. It will blow your mind.
If you aren't too depressed to click a link, try clicking on the candidates link. Try finding an election in your state where the winner didn't spend the most money.
Do you honestly think that your check for $25 or $50 can possibly compete with the amount the industry contributes?
Make it happen
If you are lucky enough to live in a state that allows ballot initiatives, take action and start a movement. If you are luckier to live in a state where someone else has started the process, help get the law passed.
