Proposition would change state politics

By Terry Van Hook, Letter to the Editor

Bravo for your March 30 editorial, "Big Money Talks", on the influence of big money with Sacramento.

Governor Schwarzenegger said it in 2003: "Here's how it works, Money goes in. Favorgs go out. The people lose." Seven years later it's the same game with no changes.

It's time we get politicians out of the fundraising game.

In June's election, we can break one link of this big money chain with a unique pilot proposal. Proposition 15 (California Fair Elections Act) is based on the tried and proven systems of Arizona, Maine, and Connecticut, as well as Portland, Albuquerque, and other places.

Prop 15 identifies the Secretary of State position for an eight-year trial run with public financing. It allows elected officials to do the jobs they were elected to do without spending time on fundraising. The program "sunsets" after eight years.

Prop 15 has strict reporting and penalties for misuse and would prohibit candidates from raising money from lobbyists, their clients, themselves, or anyone else. The funds for this program are generated by an increase in annual fees on lobbyists from $12.50 to $350.

Terry Van Hook
Antelope Valley Coordinator
"Yes on Proposition 15, California Fair Elections Act"

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