Bonus Quote of the Day

If you've ever thought, "there must be a better way;," or wondered why corporations with billions in profits legally pay less in taxes than you, or swore you would "never vote for those crooks ever again," rejoice!

Proposition 89, the Clean Money and Fair Elections Act, is coming soon to a ballot near you. If we all work hard and get this passed in November, Proposition 89 will allow candidates to remain "clean" with public financing for their campaigns. Our representatives would actually represent us, not the special interest lobbyists. Imagine, taxation with representation. What a revolutionary concept!

-Mike Kirchubel of Fairfield in the Vallejo Times Herald

Featured Letter to the Editor

San Rafael's Dan Farthing in the Marin Independent Journal:

Prop. 89 will clean up politics

The IJ's "Fill-up of the future" article (Aug. 25) was encouraging indeed; imagine what biodiesel could do if it were available cheaply and used throughout Marin and elsewhere. Less foreign oil, clean air, invigorated regional agriculture.

But with special interest groups and their lobbyists controlling Sacramento, biodiesel and similar issues aren't likely to get much support without the passage of Proposition 89 on Nov. 7.

Proposition 89 would provide optional public financing of campaigns for any legislative candidate, who then, if elected, would not be under the influence of campaign contributors. Legislators could then vote according to their own consciences for such worthwhile projects as biodiesel, other alternative fuels, and universal health care.

This "clean money" system works in Arizona, where the governor and most other statewide elected officials were elected with clean money under a similar law.

Let's vote "yes" on Proposition 89 for good government, with legislators accountable only to the voters.

On issue after issue, it is the big money special interests blocking reform. Ending the auction in Sacramento is the first step towards sound policy for California.

People Write Letters

The LA Times letters to the editor:

Regarding the Aug. 31 article "Checks Roll In as Laws Flow Out" and the inflow of money into the political system, Assemblyman Joe Nation (D-San Rafael) stated, "It creates a perception of impropriety." Wrong. It sustains a reality of corruption.

GERALD A. REDONDO
Canoga Park

We have again reached our annual frenzy of the Legislature passing questionable laws while collecting large contributions from those who benefit.

This is the same body of lawmakers who did not have the will to pass the Clean Money Act.

These people are the best reason to pass Proposition 89 (to create a system for public financing of political campaigns) in November.

California must remove the corrupting influence of big-money donors.

SHELDON KADISH
Sherman Oaks

As you can see by these two letters today, the public is disgusted by the way Sacramento operates. In May, the Public Policy Institute of California polled on the issue (May 14-21, 2000 adult residents, +/- 2% MOE):

Do you think that campaign contributions are currently having a good effect or a bad effect on the public policy decisions made by state elected officials in Sacramento, or are campaign contributions making no difference?"

Good Effect 12%
Bad Effect 56%

California Teacher's Association and Proposition 89

Jean Rains, a teacher at Longwood Elementary School, has a great letter to the editor of the Oakland Tribune:

As a public school teacher and CTA member, I was deeply disappointed to read that a CTA spokesperson announced that CTA was opposing Prop. 89, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act.

I frankly do not believe that the CTA is failing to support the proposition because it is "poorly crafted." The CTA, like any other power player, doesn't want to take the chance that it would lose power if a fairer, more inclusive, less corrupting political system replaced our old pay-to-play system.

I'm a union member, and a union supporter. I'm on the phone with the rest of the teachers when we have to work against legislation that would be harmful to students and teachers. But by opposing Prop. 89, the CTA is jeopardizing an opportunity to bring some fairness into our political process.

The California League of Women Voters and the California Nurses Association support this proposition. Arizona and Maine have adopted Clean Money reforms, and since then Maine has been the first state to adopt a form of universal health care. Majorities of candidates in both states are now running as "clean" candidates, because the public does not want to vote for candidates who are obligated to big money donors. Clean Money reforms have already proven that they support a more equitable political process.

Today, in Arizona and Maine, more women, minorities, and working class people are running for office and winning.

We teachers cannot let the CTA make up our minds for us on this important issue. Go to http://www.CAclean.org to get informed and to see a 14-minute special report by Bill Moyers. And contact the CTA to ask them to rethink their decision. They could make or break it. Don't let them break it.

While some special interest bosses like the way Sacramento operates, the people (and our schools) keep losing. We need Proposition 89