Washblog

Yes, there are some quoted comments from McCabe.  But Postman also sought out parties supportive of the concept, and gave them plenty of opportunity to say their piece.

In general, I strongly support the idea of public financing of campaigns.  But there are, I think, a number of flaws in Gregoire's JIA proposal, discussed sensibly (between the wingnut comments) on Postman's comment thread.  I hope sharper minds in the legislature will adjust the approach to make it more reasonable:

• The explicit prohibition on "disparaging or disrespectful communications" by candidates taking JIA funds is not only unconstitutional under the First Amendment.  It also smacks of the worst prudery of "Seattle nice", the same impulse that leads to crap like the 4-foot rule and other silly and inane rules we've seen lately.
• Gregoire's proposed hurdle of qualifying contributions is probably too low, as is the allocation of funds for JIA campaigns.
• Postman's article describes how Arizona funds its public campaign finance program, which depends to no small degree on the state income tax.  Washington, unfortunately, has no such tax, but I see no explanation of the funding mechanism in the proposed JIA.  (Those details might be in the full proposal from the governor, of course, but I've only seen Postman's blog entry.)

As noted above, most of these are details and improvements that would be easily accomplished through consultation with experts and officials from the states already using such systems.

You're only young once, but you can be immature forever -- Larry Andersen
Blogging at Peace Tree Farm

by N in Seattle on Wed Dec 20, 2006 at 07:32:22 PM PST

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At the "Clean Elections Forum," Town Hall Jan 5th, you will get a chance to bring up such questions to David Sirota, the guest legislators from Maine & Arizona and possibly some WA legislators.

Details: Washington Public Campaigns

We are inviting the press of course, so your question MIGHT end up in the newspaper. And we're inviting every single WA state legislator. Mark Miloscia will sponsor a pro-public campaigns bill, but others are on board as well.

It's only $5, and we expect this to be the kick-off to a tremendous year for public campaigns in WA.

More forums are coming up in Olympia, Everet, and Tacoma, if that's more convenient.

In case you care to rub shoulders with the more elitist elements of our ilk, there's the private reception for $25 or $35 per couple. Plus more for a signed copy of Sirota's book "Hostile Takeover". I don't care at all about getting such a book scribbled on, but I DO plan to read it, and I WOULD like to meet Sirota and post a picture of us on "Citizen Artiste".

by dinazina on Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 06:21:28 AM PST

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