Steve Geissinger, SACRAMENTO BUREAU
February 2, 2006
SACRAMENTO — For the first time in California history, the Assembly on Monday approved sweeping legislation that would provide publicly financed statewide and legislative campaigns.
The bill, modeled after other states' laws by Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley, may pose a dilemma for reform-minded Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"The public has lost faith in its elected officials," Hancock said, pointing to scandals in Washington, D.C., and polls that show Californians are unhappy with their leaders. "The cost of implementing this program pales in comparison to the cost of doing nothing."
The bill passed two Assembly panels and the full lower house, on a 47-26 vote, strictly along party lines.
The measure would set up a voluntary public-funding system. Statewide and legislative candidates who raise small contributions and agree not to take contributions from any special interests would receive public money.
If approved by the Senate, AB583 also would have to win the approval of Schwarzenegger and go before voters.
A Schwarzenegger administration official said the governor does not comment on bills until they reach his desk. If he did sign it, he would be going against Republican lawmakers who oppose it.
Critics said the bill, carried over from last year, is flawed and would be no more successful in curbing special-interest influence in politics than previously approved campaign-finance reforms.
But, in the wake of record-breaking campaign fund raising for the November special election, there has been greater legislative interest in the bill.
The measure is sponsored by the California Clean Money Campaign, with supporters including the California Nurses Association, the League of Women Voters, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and the Sierra Club.
Nurses association President Deborah Burger said the bill's advance to Senate committees is a "step forward for our political system and toward helping reinvigorate our democracy."
"Until we reduce the unwarranted hold of the big drug companies, HMOs, hospital and nursing-home chains, and other health care corporations, we will never be able to assure universal coverage and a single standard of care for all," Burger said.
The association has begun a companion effort to place the measure on the November ballot if the legislation fails.
Bill Magavern, of the Sierra Club, said that "if the voters of California want clean water and clean air, we've got to get clean money in the system."
The system would be similar to those in place in Arizona, Maine and Connecticut.
"One of the most appealing aspects of Clean Money is that it solves several different problems at once," said Susan Lerner of the California Clean Money Campaign.
"Not only does it help control the costs of campaigning and give new people of modest means the ability to run for office, but it also strengthens government accountability and trust in government by eliminating the perception that public policy decisions are made on a 'pay to play basis.'"
If approved by the Senate, the measure would go to a two-house conference committee to craft its final details.
Contact Steve Geissinger at sgeissinger@angnewspapers.com.