campaign finance reform

Today Bev Perdue announced a campaign finance reform plan to eliminate special interest financing of gubernatorial campaigns. The centerpiece of the idea is the Endowment for Positive Gubernatorial Campaigns.

The plan is based on former Senator Wib Gulley’s 1995 legislation. Nationally, Russ Feingold and Al Gore made similar proposals in 2000 for congressional campaigns.

Here is how it works:

 
The folks at Democracy NC have been busy. They just released a report showing that:

Lobbyists prowling the halls of the NC General Assembly received nearly $15 million from their clients in 2005, the year with the last “long session.” That amounts to $86,400 for each of the 170 legislators

According to Bob Hall, Executive Director and Research Director:

In North Carolina, interest groups actually spend more on lobbying than their PACs spend on campaign contributions to state legislators

Just last week Democracy NC announced a new campaign with a unique website called CleanUpRaleigh.com to promote "Clean, Voter Owned Elections" supporting public financing of campaigns to reduce the influence of special interest money.

Even though the election season is behind us, North Carolinians still have an opportunity to "vote" for for fair, ethical elections when paying their state income taxes. Campaign finance scandals, both at the national and state levels, have been very much in the news . The North Carolina Public Campaign Fund provides an alternative "clean" source of funds for state level judicial candidates who agree to limit private fundraising and campaign spending. You can support the fund by saying "YES" to a $3.00 check off on the state income tax form. Saying "YES" DOES NOT increase your taxes, but directs $3.00 of the taxes you are ALREADY paying to fair elections. Advise your tax preparer that you wish to support the Public Campaign Fund. Please join me in saying "YES" for fair elections. More at www.democracy-nc.org