This Tuesday, Angelenos have the opportunity to undo some of the damage the Supreme Court unleashed onto the nation with the awful Citizens United vs. FEC decision. This small, but significant, step is to support Measure H, which would bolster Los Angeles' commitment to clean money campaigns.
Measure H would:
1. Prohibit campaign contributions and fundraising by bidders on most large city contracts
2. Strengthen the city's voter-approved public matching funds system by lifting the Campaign Trust Fund
Last November, California voters, ambushed by a massive disinformation campaign by corporate interests, defeated Proposition 15, a statewide clean money initiative. Prop. 15 would have set up a public financing pilot program for future Secretary of State candidates paid for through fees charged to lobbyists. The initiative was championed by many good government groups, including a wonderful organization I volunteer for, California Common Cause. Common Cause is also working to get Measure H passed.
Angelenos can do locally what we, so far, have failed to achieve statewide. Measure H doesn't completely solve the flaws in our campaign financing system, but it will forbid one of the most corrosive practices - letting contractors make political contributions while at the same time bidding for work on large projects. Politicians love to say that the contributions they get from special interests don't ever influence their votes. That just baloney. The psychological pressure alone is just too great. And when politicians are relying on certain developers to help them keep their jobs, it just increases the city's risk of getting stuck with a company who does shoddy work. The citizens may not be getting the best company for the job.
Boosting the Campaign Trust Fund would make candidates more reliant on the citizens they serve. Public financing also opens up the electoral process to a more diverse set of candidates: more women, people of color and people of modest income. Politics shouldn't just be the province of the rich and/or well-connected. And public financing will also encourage candidates to seek smaller donations.
Unfortunately, I can't vote on Measure H because I live in unincorporated Los Angeles County, instead of within the city limits (I'm not represented by the City Council, but the Board of Supervisors). This may not be a very exciting election, but nonetheless, I'm urging all my friends that do live in the city to get out and vote and help strike a blow against the theft of our democracy by the plutocrats.
For more information about Measure H, go to: http://HforHonesty.org
Updated by mooremusings at Wed Mar 9, 2011, 06:54:58 PM
Great News!! Measure H passed 75%-25%!! Thanks to everyone who voted.