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March 26, 2009
Clean Elections Update
Public Financing for Supreme Court passes Senate Judiciary
Committee!
Senate Judiciary took up S311, the public financing bill for Supreme Court
candidates on Thursday morning this week. Senator Don Caruth (R-Mercer) offered
an amendment to include a provision that the Supreme Court elections be
non-partisan, but it was defeated. Senator Evan Jenkins (D-Cabell) offered an
amendment to begin the Pilot Project in 2010 instead of 2012, because of the
unforeseen necessity of an election in 2010 due to the recent death of Justice
Joseph P. Albright. That amendment was approved. The committee then voted to
move the bill, with recommendation that it pass. The bill has now been referred
to Finance Committee. Kudos to Julie Archer of WV Citizen Action, who spent many
hours helping to develop the bill and getting the final product ready.
We need your immediate assistance in getting the bill taken up by the Finance
Committee. Please make your call Friday to Senator Walt Helmick (D-Pochahontas)
at 357-7980 and urge him to place S311 on the Finance Committee agenda.
And don’t pass up a chance to meet with legislators and advocate for the Supreme
Court bill! This coming Saturday, March 28 at 10:00 AM, Carol Warren will speak,
and Labor Council members will participate in a panel discussion of Clean
Elections, in the basement conference room (BE5) at the Marshall Student Center,
Huntington. A continental breakfast will be provided. Please come join in the
discussion and help us demonstrate that there is citizen support for public
financing! Discussion of the Health Care for All Campaign will follow, so it
should be a very informative morning. Please let us know if you need directions!
Unfortunately, our legislative public financing bill (H2764) was not taken up by
Judiciary Subcommittee A. But WV Citizens for Clean Elections will continue to
advocate for public financing for legislative races, and the legislators know
that we will not go away!
Thank you for your help, and all you do for Clean Elections!
Carol Warren
WV Citizens for Clean Elections
(304) 847-5121
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