Washblog || Clean Judicial Campaigns: WA Legislature says "Let's Study it"

Clean Judicial Campaigns: WA Legislature says "Let's Study it"

By noemie maxwell
Wed Mar 14, 2007 at 03:28:40 PM PST
Section: Washington State Topic: Campaign Finance

The Public Funding for Local Office Campaigns bill is still alive. We'll know its fate after midnight tonight.

Today was the deadline for HB 1186, public financing of judicial campaigns, to move off the floor of the House. Craig Salins, the Director of Washington Public Campaigns has just sent an email announcement that the bill did not make it. It's disappointing that a Democratically controlled legislature did not support this legislation requested by the Governor. But they didn't drop the ball entirely. At the Governor's request, a budget proviso (precursor to an amendment) is now in the works which would fund a study of public financing through the Washington State Institute for Public Policy.

As Salins notes in his email, the provisions for doing a study of a judicial program opens additional opportunities to organize community input and hearings around the state. As the language of the proviso, below, shows -- this study is bound to yield very useful information that can help further move public opinion. This is not a surprising development, as Salins notes in his email, citing an old proverb: You can't raise a heavy boat with a single wave; you need the tide to come in, higher water all around. "That's what we're setting out to do, with far deeper awareness and support for voter-owned elections by the general public..", in the months ahead.

Study of Public Financing and Traditional Financing of Campaigns
$150,000 is provided solely to the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to study expenditures between public financing and traditional financing of campaigns, including, but not limited to: 1) the amount of money spent on independent expenditures and electioneering communications; 2) the rate of increase or decrease of independent expenditures and electioneering communications; 3) the amounts of money expended within 14 days of an election; 4) the number of candidates that file for office; and 5) the rate of incumbency. In addition, the study shall include an assessment of the amount of money necessary to adequately fund a public financing program for appellate judicial positions.

I followed up with a call to Craig Salins. He acknowledged that it was a disappointment that the legislature is not yet ready yet to embrace public financing of judicial campaigns. But he sounded upbeat.

People know that campaigns need to be about issues and voters, and not about money, he said. But they also need to understand that this model works. We see that it does in Maine and Arizona, where these programs are not only successful, but highly popular. What we need is a "muscular statewide grassroots effort to continue the push for public financing at every level."

Washington Public Campaigns has a big year ahead to continue educating the public and building the movement, including stepped-up stepped-up speaker presentations, meet-ups, a statewide conference, and more.

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Clean Judicial Campaigns: WA Legislature says "Let's Study it" | 4 comments (4 topical)

Damn. We had high hopes.

Time to get to work on the Clean Elections Puppet for the Solstice Parade.

by dinazina on Wed Mar 14, 2007 at 06:44:22 PM PST

* 1 none 0 *

Let's study it? STUDY IT?

There are times when you just want to say "Boot to the head!" and have our legislators lined up like dominoes so each head smacks right into the next one.

This isn't one of those times. This is a sledgehammer to the brain moment. Does anyone else feel that sickening sense of betrayal? Like you just realized you've been sold out?

What's to study?

by Pen on Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 12:42:31 AM PST

* 2 none 0 *

Betrayal by noemie maxwell, 03/15/2007 07:38:40 AM PST (none / 0)

Well said, but by dinazina, 03/15/2007 08:10:43 AM PST (none / 0)

Clean Judicial Campaigns: WA Legislature says "Let's Study it" | 4 comments (4 topical)

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