More Big Money Opponents

A few weeks ago, Kailin Clarke wrote a column for the Brown (University) Daily Herald noting, "The strength of a reform can usually be assessed by the status quo's resistance to it. California Proposition 89, which would create full public financing of state elections in a state that comprises that world's fifth largest economy, has an unprecedented alliance of corporations and unions in an uproar."

The further you get from the Speaker's Gavel, the more likely you are to support reform. The latest breakdown of Friends of Fabian Nunez our opponent's funders has 35% coming form Big Insurance and HMOs, 15% Big Oil. 11% developers and real estate, 9% Chamber of Commerce, 7% Big Utilities, 7% Big Pharma, 4% banks and 3% agribusiness.

You will know us by our enemies

Steven Harmon in the Contra Costa Times:

Foes unite to fight 89
Opposition to the 'clean money' campaign initiative, with strict contribution limits, has created odd bedfellows

SACRAMENTO - The odd alliance opposing Proposition 89, the "clean money" initiative, illustrates what proponents say is the problem in state politics: Big-money interests are so vested in the system that even the most extreme opposites -- like the state teacher's union and the state's biggest business advocate -- will join forces to keep the status quo.

Prop. 89 would place limits on contributions to state legislative candidates, independent expenditure committees and political parties. It would also restrict donations to ballot initiatives, though political action committees could still give unlimited amounts. [...]

But while corporations have provided the bulk of financial backing to the opposition, the merging of forces between left and right -- unions and businesses, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, and Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger -- has exposed how the measure has threatened entrenched interests, said Ned Wigglesworth, policy advocate for California Common Cause.

"Democrats and Republicans alike are hooked on campaign cash, making it possible for a handful of interests to keep both parties on a fairly short leash," Wigglesworth said. "This means the public interest often takes a back seat to the wish list of big donors, whether it's a bloated contract for the prison guards union, an expansion of Indian gaming compacts or the passage of a bill like the cable bill, done to benefit one particular company."

Look our opponents, the only thing they have in common is that they have enough money to buy what they want in Sacramento.

This is already the most expensive election ever. Just like the last one was the most expensive election ever. Unless Proposition 89 passes, the next election will again be the most expensive ever.

Grassroots Democrats Supporting Proposition 89

It seems the further people are from the Speaker's Gavel, the more likely they are to support Proposition 89. Last night, Humbolt Democrats endorsed Prop 89. On Tuesday, Contra Costa, Sacramento and Sonoma Democrats endorsed. On Monday it was San Diego.

It is not surprising to see Sacramento's vested interests oppose Prop. 89, but what is surprising is the level of grassroots support that is coming together pass Clean Money, including:

The Beach Cities Democratic Club, Democratic Alliance for Action, Democratic Club of Claremont, Democratic Club of Tracy, Democratic Club of West Orange County, Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley, Democracy for America - Temecula Valley, Democracy for America - Orange County (DFA-OC), El Cerrito Democratic Club, Fresno County Democratic Central Committee, Golden Gate Democratic League, Kennedy Club of San Joaquin Valley, JFK Democratic Good Works Club, Marin Chapter - Democracy for America, Marin Democratic Central Committee, Metropolitan Los Angeles Democratic Club, Noe Valley Democratic Club, Novato Democratic Club, Oakmont Democratic Club, Pacific Palisades Democratic Club, Peoples Democratic Club of Santa Cruz County, Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains, ReclaimDemocracy.org - Orange County, San Francisco Democratic Central Committee, San Francisco Democratic Women's Forum, San Gabriel Valley Women's Democratic Club, Santa Clara County Democratic Club, Santa Clara Democratic Central Committee, SoCal Grassroots, 38th AD Committee of the Democratic Party and the 72nd AD Committee of the Democratic Party.

Here are some tools for you to take grassroots action to pass Proposition 89.

Fabian Nunez

Consultant Wagging the Politician

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez just announced his opposition to Prop 89, the Clean Elections Initiative. Not coincidentally, the campaign against the measure is being led by his chief political consultant, Gale Kaufman. It was Kaufman who notified the press of Nunez's decision. Under Prop 89, Nunez would no longer be able to raise campaign cash to parcel out to other Democrats and consolidate his power in the Assembly. He could no longer shake down big donors, like insurer Blue Cross, for 25 grand to sit beside him at the World Cup. Nor could he tap special interests for his all purpose ballot measure committees. Kaufman would see an even bigger blow to her business, which currently includes helping the California Teachers Association buy all the influence it can. Prop 89 is for those who believe in the power of big ideas, not big money. This years Speaker Nunez's legislative agenda has spoken for the likes of AT&T, TimeWarner and Blue Cross. Voters deserve better.

Indeed. The problem with Sacramento is that the legislative incentive system is all built about money. Just like voters deserve campaigns of ideas instead of fundraising, so too do invidual legislators deserve leadership that values good policy as much as fundraising. It seems that the further one is from the gavel the more likely they are to support real reform.

One final thought for the night: Is it any surprise that everyone is talking about nonvoters?

David Paul Brown for Prop 89

David Paul Brown, writing in the Paradise Post, gives a shout out to Proposition 89:

Three groups (among many) that I mostly agree with are supporting 89.

They're Common Cause, Public Campaign and The League of Women Voters.

Let's allow a candidate's ideas to garner our votes, immaterial of their wallet's largess.

They've done it in Maine and Arizona with good results and satisfied voters. The "fat cats" may not like it but isn't that the point? Yes on 89.

Of course the "fat cats" don't like Proposition 89, they are doing quite well in the current system (cough, Fabian Nunez, cough). It is precisely because clean elections return power to the people that special interests are opposed.