LWVMD Public Funding of Campaigns Action Alert!

[LWVMD Action and Info]

ACTION ALERT  SB 593/HB 971-PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FINANCING ACT for CANDIDATES for
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND DELEGATES ASAP-TALK WITH THEM ON LEGISLATIVE DAY

 

SB 593 will be heard by EHEA on Wednesday, February 27-the same day as our
Legislative Day.  The 2007 bill, which is almost identical to SB 593, lost
by one vote on the Senate Floor.  We have an excellent chance this year of
gaining Senate passage and we expect the House will pass its bill as it did
in 2006. The first step this year is to see that EHEA members who voted for
the 2007 bill do so again.  Your help is essential to achieving that result.

 

EHEA has only 9 members this year.  Please contact and try to visit on or
before Legislative Day the following members who supported Public
Funding/Financing last year:

 

Joan Carter Conway, District 43.  Thank her for her support and tell her how
important it is that SB 593 receive a favorable vote in her committee.
(410) 841-3145, joan.carter.conway at senate.state.md.us  fax: (410) 841-3135

 

Thank James Rosapepe, District 21 (410) 841-3141,
jim.rosapepe at senate.state.md.us for co-sponsoring SB 593 and Paul Pinsky,
(410) 841-3155,  paul.pinsky at senate.state.md.us fax: (410) 841-3144
District 22, for his work as lead supporter of public funding for many
years.

                        

Also, thank Roy Dyson, District 29,  (410) 841-3673,
roy.dyson at senate.state.md.us fax: (410) 841-3928,  and Michael Lennett,
District 19, (410) 841-3151,  mike.lenett at senate.state.md.us fax: (410)
841-3740, for their support last year.  Tell them you hope they will support
SB 593 this year.  

 

Senator David Harrington, District  47, was not on EHEA last year.  He has
replaced Gwendolyn Britt who was a strong supporter of Public Funding.  Ask
for his support this year.  (410) 841-3745,
david.harrington at senate.state.md.us  fax: (410) 841-3387.

 

Senator Andrew Harris, District 7, voted on the Senate Floor last year for
Public Funding but opposed it in EHEA.  He's a wild card this year.  Remind
him of his Floor vote, thank him, and tell him we hope he'll favor SB 593 in
committee.   (410) 841-3706, andrew.harris at senate.state.md.us  fax: (410)
841-3750

 

Senators Colburn, District 37, (410) 841-3590,
richard.colburn at senate.state.md.us  fax: (410) 841-3087  and Greenip,
District 33, (410) 841-3568, (301) 858-3568
janet.greenip at senate.state.md.us fax: (410) 841-3067 have consistently
opposed Public Funding.   It's still important that they be reminded of the
League's position.

 

Please contact Kay Terry kay.terry5 at verizon.net if you have any questions. 

________________________________________________________________

 

Background Information

 

.         LWVMD supports Public Funding of Campaigns for the General
Assembly.

.         SB 593 will create a voluntary system of Public Funding which
will promote citizen participation in the political process and help combat
the public perception that policy decisions are unduly influenced by large
contributions (LWVUS position).  

.         The system is not anti-incumbent.  More than 50% of re-elected
incumbents in Maine and Arizona have received public funding and find that
it decreases the amount of time they must spend in fundraising and enables
them to focus more on the  needs of their constituents and development of
public policy.  

.         Connecticut has enacted a system similar to SB 593.  The system
has been used successfully in two special elections for the legislature,
The Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission projects that 78% of
Senate and House candidates will participate in November.

.         Candidates will qualify for public funding by raising
contributions from several hundred residents in their own districts.  Those
"qualifying contributions" help to fund the system.

.         Publicly-funded candidates agree to spend essentially nothing
beyond the public funding they receive.  That amount, based on average
expenditures in recent elections, is $80,000 for a House seat and $100,00
for a Senate seat. 

.          Provisions are made to even the playing field for publicly-funded
candidates who are outspent by  privately funded opponents.  The
publicly-funded candidate may, in that case, receive up to 200% of the
spending limit. 

.         The system will be funded by proceeds from the disposition of
unclaimed property devolved to the state. 

 

 

 

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