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This article originally provided by
Huntington News
January 29, 2007
GUEST COMMENTARY: A True Freedom Bill: Clean Elections
By the Rev. Dennis Sparks
West Virginia citizens have an opportunity to create a gust of fresh air in
the halls of the Capitol on Feb. 1, 2007, Clean Elections Day.
A coalition of over twenty groups -- including the West Virginia Council of
Churches, AFL-CIO, League of Women Voters, Citizen Action, and others -- will be
turning out their members to make the case for public financing of legislative
campaigns in our state.
During the run-up to last November's election, it was impossible not to see the
pervasive presence of money in politics. Details of special interests vying to
affect the outcome of our elections here in West Virginia were an almost daily
news event. And even financial support of a less insidious nature continues to
increase, as campaigns spend more and more with each election cycle.
Why should concerned citizens care about the amount of money our politicians
raise and spend? The national campaign reform organization Public Campaign has
calculated that the candidate spending the most money wins over 90 percent of
the time. That is an appalling statistic when one considers its implications for
our democracy.
Right now in West Virginia we have a remarkable opportunity to move in another
direction. We began in 2006 when our West Virginia Legislature adopted an
excellent piece of legislation to regulate the activity of 527 organizations,
requiring these organizations to disclose their identity and funding sources.
We can continue on that path with the Public Campaign Financing Act. I often
call it the true "freedom bill" because through the passage of this bill, we
increase the opportunity for our citizens to trust our government and provide
that our elected officials can earnestly listen to their constituency and vote
their conscience.
The funding system is totally voluntary - no candidate is required to
participate. To qualify for public funding, candidates must demonstrate public
support by collecting a certain number of signatures along with $5 contributions
from registered voters in their district.
The show of public support required will weed out so-called "fringe candidates."
Qualifying candidates receive an amount of money sufficient to run a viable
campaign. There are clear-cut and stringent guidelines as to how the public
money can be spent, and violating the law can lead to prosecution.
Public funding has been proven to work. Maine and Arizona became the first two
states to implement this system, which has been a clear success. Clean Election
reforms freed candidates from fundraising and allowed them to run more
issue-oriented campaigns.
There is greater financial equality among candidates, and the overall amount of
campaign spending is decreasing. Electoral competition and voter choice have
increased. A much more diverse group of legislators is being elected. After the
2004 election, Maine's Senate now includes 83 percent Clean Elections
candidates, with 77 percent in the House.
Free and open elections are a public good and indeed, the bedrock of our
democracy. To provide public funding for candidates reduces the possibility of
corruption, reduces the amount of time a candidate spends raising private funds,
and diminishes the role of special interests in determining public policy.
It increases the likelihood that legislators can listen to constituents and
pursue the common good. People who make excellent legislators, but could not
dream of financing a campaign can run and win. The time is right for our state
to become a leader in ensuring that the voices of all West Virginians are heard
in choosing our public policies.
For more information on the schedule for Clean Elections Day, or to find out how
to contact your own legislators about this important issue, check the Clean
Elections website, www.wvoter-owned.org.
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Rev. Dennis Sparks is Executive Director of West Virginia
Council of Churches
www.wvcc.org/
office phone: 304.344.3141
e-mail: dsparks@wvcc.org |
