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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-08-28 95-387 RESOLVECODNCIL ACTION Bate: August 28, 1995 Item NO. 9595_38] Item/Subject: AASOLVm: Calling for Campaign Finance Reform for State Political Campaigns Responsible Department: City Council The attached Resolve has been introduced at the request of Councilor Baldacci. This effort has been undertaken by the money and Politica Project which is a project of the Maine Citizen Leadership Fund, a non-partisan, non- profit organisation founded in 1991. Additional information on this project is attached for your review. This Resolve has been reviewed previously by the municipal Operations Committee which did not recommend support. Councilor Baldacci was not able to attend the meeting where this was discussed and has requested that the Council give it consideration. manager's Coments: V� Md Associated Information: Letter, Question and Answer Sheet Legal Approval: TY SOnTCTTOR Introduced For A Passage First Reading Page - of -Referral Assigned to Councilor Baldacci August 28, 1995-381 CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE) �RITO IF, Calling for Campaign Finance Reform fo State Political Campaigns By Bm CUP CmmcU of Mo City OfBaasoy: RESOLVED. WHEREAS, the coat of political campaigns for State Offices has been Increasing dramatically; and WHEREAS, contributions to those seeking state office often come from a small number of large contributors; and WHEREAS, the current campaign financing system often provides for greater access by wealthy individuals, organized interest groups, and political action committees; and WHEREAS, the goals of campaign finance reform include a halt to escalating campaign spending, providing a level playing field for ivoumbents and challengers, ensuring that candidates spend more time with ordinary citizens rather than special interests, and restoring public confidence in the electoral process and government; and WHEREAS, the goals of campaign financing reform will benefit the City of Bangor and our citizens; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANMR, on behalf of the citizens of Bangor, that we believe that far too much money is spent in our state elections. We call upon Maine's elected officials in Augusta to enact legislation that wills -Cut overall spending an state political campaigns; -Reduce the influence of special interests on our elected officials; -Allow candidates to spend less time raising money and more time listening to voters; -Give new candidates a fighting chance against incumbents. Further and most importantly, we believe that reform of our elections should involve the voices of ordinary people. We respectfully request that the Legislature address these concerns and the concerns of approximately 600 of our citizens who have signed a similar petition. IN CITY COUNCIL August 28, 1995 Lee Helfer, 382 Center St., urged adoption of this HesolVe. Sohn uief£enbacher-Kral. Name People Alliance, felt that the "Voice" of Municipalities has been ery effective in Legislative Reforms. Motion Failed Pasaag¢ Vote: 4 yes, 4 an Councilors Voting yes: Baldacci, Blanchette, Frenkel E Popper Councilors Voting no: Soucy, SvITOsaa, Tyler 6 Wopdcock CITY 95-38] N E 5 0 L V E Callin for Campaign Finance Reform for Scate poll! ca amps gna 95-387 Money and P®lnfacs Pr®'eci e Take Money Out Of Politics. Clean Up Elections. Reston Demovacy. 4 Q. Do we and campaign fiful reform in Maine? A. YES. The cost of coning for the Maine legislature is exploding. For example, in the Score the aohage cost to out has gone from $5,560 in 1984 m $16,955 in 1992. just to run. To n a Senate seat in 1992 it cost on average over $24,000. Preliminary estimates for 1994 Senate wormers tell us that election spending was around $24.000 for the virtues. Campaign contributions me being donated m large choke. In 1994, the four gubernatorial candidates received 70% of their contributions in amounts of $500 or more. A 1992 study of legislative races found that 77% of the money nosed by key lawmakers came in flounder of $100 or more. The largest single Interest group giving to candidates is business. Lawyers and lobbyists, as well as those with a stake in health care (like insurance occasional join business at the top of the fist of major conufbumrs to campaigns. All available information suggests that campaign fiwnm reform is needed on Maine and should address the influence of wealthy individuals, businesses. and political action committees (PACs) in both gubernatorial and legislative fares. Q. Why b db hnparmntfor oar mon to vote on? A. towns and cities in every comer of de state will be voting on similar resolutions. To send a strong message it is critical that we amplify each other's voices through getting as many municipalities as possible pars them. Only through collective action will we let the people who uphold she status quo know that it's high time we change how elections aze bought and sold. Fine Money and Politics Project believes that the way we pay for elections potentially violates she principle of "one person, one vote" because of the emphasis on money- What beau place is there to send a message hum about campaign finance reform than town meeting. It is a place where one person truly does have one vote and where citizens me wrestling wish critical decrease that will affect dominions, their Children, and their neighbors, And many of the issues town residents vote on at town meeting -- school budget, waste management, envim mentd issues — these are all impacted by the decisions they're making in Augusta. Anil needs to hear that enough b enough when it comes to money driving our elecrions. We need elected officials in Augusta or do something about this because, in the words of Representative Joe Carleton (R -Wells), we have a "system of legalized bribery." One Museum Street, Portland, Mains 04101 a W: (207) 100.865).(800)691-5236(Maes only)• fv:(207) 7000142 P.O. Bar 2512, Auguste. Ma'irc 04338 em: (207) 621-1844. frac (207) 6731916 v prgetl an, MVNe Cine" ,'ohsp Fund Q. Who are the goals tifeampaignfimiswe rejonx? .. A. They are: I To halt the rising costs of election spending; 2 To reduce the influence of large donors and special interests th elections; 3 To level the playing field for incumbents and challengers; 9 To encourage fair discussion of important issues without fear of losing sources of campaign funding; S To allow incumbents to devote more time to the jobs they were elected for and less time fundraising, 6 To ensure that candidates spend more time speaking to ordinary cifizens who they seek to represent nether than those who represent special interests; To strengthen the agency charged with administrating and enforcing election and campaign firsence laws; 8 To give memfng to the vote of every individual based on the democratic principle of .one person, one vote", 9 To restore public confidence in goverment Q. Are tress lints to;Aat rampaignfmamw reform um do? A. Many advorate creating aviable, strong alterative to our current system because More are some limits to what live can do to fix how elections are financed now: 1 Campaign F anue reform cannot legally mandate the amount of money a candidate can spend; 2 Campagn finance reform carrot legally control the total amount of conuibutions a candidate receives, or the amount that the candidate gives to themselves; 3 Campaign finance reform cannot altogether prevent a candidate from running negative TV ads (but it could provide an aleernadve to «pensive TV campaigns). Q. What is the Mmey.nd Politica pv{ t? A. The Mower and PoW3cs Paumt is a project of the Maine Citizen Leadership Fund, a non- partisan, non-profit organization founded in 1991. The Project provides public information and education on the issue of the firso ing of elections through reports, studies and community organizing. It has recently released"Elections or Auctkary, a report[hast studied ' who paid for Maine's 1999 gubernatorial elections, and a series of "Making the Gunk" reports, which are obketde analyses of campaign bounce reform bills before rhe Maine State Legislature. Monkey and Politics Project 95-387 e Take Money Out Of Polities. Clean Up Ele ti me. seatore Democracy. a RECEIVED 4062 1 1995 Augusl l8,1995 CITY MAMSBI•SOFFICE Edward Barrett City Manager City of Bangor 73 Burlow Soreen Darvon, Maine 04401 Dear Mr. Darren John DleBmbacher-Krell suggested that Iwme to you to provide add'alonal informative regarding the non-bmdiog resolution the Mame People's Alliance and the Murry and Politics Project have jointly proposed w the Burkina City Council. Ten communities to date have passed kronor resolutions decrying the influence of wealthy individuals, special unpaed political action companies, and corporations on our electoral process and ow elected officials. At least another dozen will take up the issue he the wining months. We utilize these votes to add the amplified, collective voices of Mame residents to this debate. We also provide objective, educational materials from mu research to residents about elective financing in Mame. I have enclosed a question and answer sheet that describes the problem as we and many Mame citizens see it (including 600 who signed petaions he Bangor), as wig as a description ofthe project. Please@elbeaus contact mewith my questivesNaz youmryhava Icanbe reaahedatthe Poulandol8cemlmberbelow. Sincerely, David Donnelly SpavlProjecns Director enclosures One Ple MSveet, Pormal Maim 04101•tel:(207)]808652,(000)692-5236(M4wa )afmc(302)2&40142 P.O. I1m2512.Augonc Maine 04338ete1:(202)621- I W+fuc(107)623-4916 " ay�q'en orae Ma4e Oeaen cuee"hip fund