Cleaning during the Most Expensive Election Ever

Jones and Steinberg Clean Car Windows to Clean Up Sacramento
Proposition 89 Would Bring Clean Money Into Politics

Sacramento - Assemblymember Dave Jones and Democratic candidate for State Senate Darrell Steinberg rolled up their sleeves to clean car windows today at a local gas station, to dramatize the need for clean elections in Proposition 89. Along with a local “Squeegee Brigade” and representatives from Common Cause, League of Women Voters and the Sierra Club, Jones and Steinberg cleaned car windows for free today at a local gas station to dramatize the need for clean government in California. The groups and politicians support Proposition 89, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act on the California ballot this November 7th.

Participants educated gas station customers and the public on Proposition 89 and its importance to cleaning up California politics and the significance of the initiative.

“The $2 million push from an out of state developer behind the Maloof arena tax is the local poster child for what we face statewide,” said Assemblymember Dave Jones (D- Sacramento). “We need to inject clean money into politics so that elections can be about ideas instead of who has the most cash,” continued Jones.

“Prop 89 would clean up the Sacramento legislature,” said Trudy Schafer of League of Women Voters of California, who also cleaned car windows. “With this election being the most expensive in history, Proposition 89 is the only measure on the November ballot that could restore voter confidence in the system.”

“To get clean air and clean water, we have to clean up our political system,” said Bill Magavern of Sierra Club California.

If passed by California voters on November 7th, Proposition 89 would establish a voluntary “Clean Money” system for full public financing of election campaigns modeled upon successful programs already in place in Arizona and Maine and recently adopted by Connecticut. It is designed to level the election playing field, open up the ballot to more good candidates, and stop political corruption by making elected officials accountable to voters, not big money donors.

For more information on Proposition 89:

www.89Now.org
www.Yeson89.org
www.Latinosfor89.org

Proposition 89 Gaining Support

California's two major good government organizations, the League of Women Voters of California and California Common Cause, joined a growing coalition of community-based organizations by endorsing Proposition 89.

"The League and Common Cause have actively worked to support reasonable measures including contribution limits, limits on campaign spending, partial public financing of campaigns, and better disclosure of the financing of campaigns," said Jackie Jacobberger, President of the League of Women Voters of California. "But the real solution to the runaway spending that has made California's elections a competition of money, not ideas, is public funding -- the Clean Money approach."

Proposition 89 mandates strict contribution limits, creates public financing of political campaigns and forces tough disclosure and enforcement for politicians.

"We face a serious problem with voter apathy and disgust over elections where there are no new ideas or faces," noted Kathay Feng, Executive Director of California Common Cause. "A Clean Money system levels the playing field for more qualified candidates with diverse points of view and backgrounds to run."

The "Clean Money" system of public financing of elections is similar to those already adopted in Maine and Arizona, where the system has lowered overall campaign spending, freed candidates from fundraising, increased turnout, and encouraged more qualified people to run including women and minorities.

"These states have proven that Clean Money elections are constitutional and they work," said Common Cause President Chellie Pingree. "Californians are tired of pay-to-play politics and negative ad wars. Proposition 89 would go a long way toward giving citizens a louder voice and a more responsive government."

In addition, Proposition 89 has gained the support of the Consumer Federation of California.

"All too often, consumer protection legislation is defeated in Sacramento by politicians who are beholden to the big business interests that bankroll their electoral campaigns," CFC's Executive Director Richard Holober stated. "Proposition 89 would help reduce the influence of corporate campaign contributions on elected officials. It will help to decrease the use of the ballot initiative as a vehicle for big business to enact legislation, and help restore the initiative to its original purpose as an expression of the people's will."

Daily updates on the initiative campaign's progress can be found at the Proposition 89 Blog.

Proposition 89 News

California Common Cause and the League of Women Voters of California Are Proud to Announce Their Support for Proposition 89

California's two major good government organizations, the League of Women Voters of California and California Common Cause, joined a growing coalition of community-based organizations, and announced their endorsement today of Proposition 89, the Clean Money Initiative.

Said Jackie Jacobberger, President of the League of Women Voters of California, "The League and Common Cause have actively worked to support reasonable measures including contribution limits, limits on campaign spending, partial public financing of campaigns, and better disclosure of the financing of campaigns. But the real solution to the runaway spending that has made California's elections a competition of money, not ideas, is public funding -- the Clean Money approach."

"We hope that California will join Connecticut, Maine, Arizona and other places in adopting a Clean Money system that puts voter interests ahead of lobbyists and special interests. These states have proven that Clean Money elections are constitutional and they work," said Common Cause President Chellie Pingree. "Californians are tired of pay-to-play politics and negative ad wars. Proposition 89 would go a long way toward giving citizens a louder voice and a more responsive government."

Said Kathay Feng, Executive Director of California Common Cause, "We face a serious problem with voter apathy and disgust over elections where there are no new ideas or faces. A Clean Money system levels the playing field for more qualified candidates with diverse points of view and backgrounds to run. Good candidates show their viability by collecting a certain number (750 - 25,000 depending on the office) of five dollar contributions, and then receive public funding to run on their ideas. Having a huge campaign war chest or the endorsement of machine politicians would no longer be the key to winning."

Prop. 89 was placed on the November 2006 ballot through the efforts of the California Nurses Association.