My Notes on Election Reform (for YearlyKos panel on same)

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Friday June 09, 2006 · 12:31 AM PDT

2006/06/09 · 00:31

With so many good sessions going on today (Friday) at YearlyKos, I thought it couldn't hurt to post my admittedly rough speaking notes for the panel on election reform that I will be on along with Adam Bonin, Kris Novoselic, Krysten Sinema and John Morris. Also, since the panel is at 8:00am, I bet there are a fair number of people who (ahem) probably won't be up that early.

Three main themes to touch on: the Problem of Money in Politics; the Clean Money Solution; Action Steps.

PROBLEM: Money is the Achilles heel of American democracy

Here are the four main reasons why we have to change how money affects elections in America.
-Campaigns are too expensive. The cost of running for office is skyrocketing, deterring many good people from even entering the process.
-Good candidates without money or connections to wealthy interests don't have a fair chance of competing for office
-Politicians are forced to spend too much time raising money rather than devoting themselves to being public servants.
-Special interests have too much influence, while ordinary people get "good government." Read More

Big Victory in Connecticut!

Msifry

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Thursday December 01, 2005 · 9:51 AM PST

2005/12/01 · 09:51

History was made at 2:45am, EST, this morning, when the Connecticut House joined the Senate in passing a comprehensive campaign reform bill that will establish full public financing of campaigns for all state offices. A coalition led by the Connecticut Citizen Action Group and supported by Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, Public Campaign, and many other groups, kept the heat on all sides and got the legislature to do the right thing. The bill now goes to Governor Jodi Rell, who has said she will sign it.

How did this happen? And what lessons should we learn from this victory? Read More

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