Campaign Reform Makes Progress

By Mary V. Barmettler, Letter to Editor

We need a voluntary system for public financing of campaigns for state offices that would eliminate the time and effort candidates and incumbents must spend on fundraising. On Jan. 10, AB 583, the clean-money elections bill, passed a critical vote in the Assembly Elections Committee, the first of many hurdles. Being a member of about 65 enthusiastic citizen supporters of AB 583 that day in Sacramento was for me a pivotal moment in recognizing the part concerned voters can play in public-policy making. Being activists, rather than just spectators, allows us to be part of the political process.

Mary V. Barmettler
Jan Jose

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