DIVERSE VOICES SPEAK OUT IN FAVOR OF "CLEAN MONEY" BILL

PRESS RELEASE
from the California Clean Money Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2005

CONTACT:
Eric Tang (310)500-9591

DIVERSE VOICES SPEAK OUT IN FAVOR OF "CLEAN MONEY" BILL
Elected officials from California, labor, public interest organizations,
and elected official from Arizona testify in support of full public funding
of state election campaigns

Los Angeles – The State Assembly Elections Committee held an informational
hearing in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday for AB 583 – the Clean Money and
Fair Elections Act. Speaking in support of the bill were a number of
prominent Californians as well as a representative from Arizona elected
under a system of full public funding of campaigns similar to what AB 583
would create.

Assemblywoman Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley), the bill’s author, opened the
hearing. “The Clean Money and Fair Elections Act (AB 583) will put the
public’s interest first and restore credibility to California’s democratic
process,” she told the crowded auditorium.

Representative Phil Lopes, the Minority Leader of the Arizona House of
Representatives, who flew in from Tuscon to testify in support of Clean
Money explained how Arizona’s system of full public funding of election
campaigns (which they call “Clean Elections”) had strengthened democracy in
his state. “Since its adoption, Clean Elections has truly opened up the
ballot to more candidates and moved us closer to the ideal of the
citizen-legislator. By restoring the average person’s faith in government,
Clean Elections helps heal the break between people and their
representatives.”

Susan Lerner, executive director of the California Clean Money Campaign, a
nonprofit, nonpartisan organization building statewide support for full
public funding of election campaigns, explained why her organization helped
craft AB 583, “Clean Money is a workable alternative to big money dominance
of politics. It makes elected officials accountable the voters, not big
money donors. Plus it controls the spiraling costs of campaigns, leads to
higher voter turnout, and restores people’s trust in their elected
representatives.”

Labor support for Clean Money was also on hand. Sean Harrigan, Executive
Director of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) California
Council, explained his organization’s support. “The UFCW feels that
California really needs to explore full public funding of elections. This
hearing is an excellent opportunity to discuss an innovative way to level
the playing field and open the ballot so more good people can run.”

Senator Richard Alarcón, the Majority Whip for California’s State Senate
also testified in support of the bill. “I’ve been a long time supporter of
campaign finance reform and Clean Money in particular,” he said. “Adoption
of AB 583 would be of significant benefit not just to underserved
communities such Latinos but to all Californians.”

Representative from CALPIRG, California Common Cause, the League of Women
Voters, and other organizations also testified in support of the Clean
Money bill.

AB 583 will be voted on by the Assembly Elections Committee in January.



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Susan Lerner..... Executive Director
Eric Tang......... Communications Coordinator
Aaron Cervantes... Latino Outreach Coordinator
Moira Brennan... Development Director
Jo Seidita....... President
Trent Lange...... Vice President & Newsletter Editor


Contact us at Info [at] CAclean.org or at (800) 566-3780

The California Clean Money Campaign is a nonpartisan, nonprofit
organization building statewide support for full public funding of election
campaigns.

Learn more: http://www.CAclean.org