The fight over what to do about money in politics and the role of corporations and special interests has been going on for decades, if not for over a century, starting with limits on spending by corporations and unions. Following Watergate and charges of illegal contributions in the previous election, in 1974 Congress passed campaign finance reforms in the form of amendments to the 1971 Federal Election Campaign Act. In addition to placing limits on campaign contributions and increased disclosure, this new legislation also created the Federal Elections Commission as an enforcement mechanism.
But let no good idea go unchallenged! The 1976 Buckley v. Valeo decision, while maintaining restrictions on contributions, rejected limits on “independent” expenditures from outside groups, because...
...Money equals speech.
McCain-Feingold (the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002) sought to correct problems of “soft money”. The “Mah name is Billboard Rawkins, an’ Ah ah-proved this message!” commercial tag line came out of that legislation.
But of course the lid on corporate money was blown off with the Citizens United decision, and now...
...“Corporations are people, my friend.”
So...if money is speech, and we want to give people a voice…let’s give the people a little money to use to shout out with!
Introducing...
This year in the City of Seattle we’re starting a new way of partially funding candidates for city offices. Every person of voting age and legally living in the city gets four $25 coupons that they may give to any qualified candidate running for city office.
In 2017 there are three races eligible: 2 at-large City Council positions, and the City Attorney. (District Council candidates are to be eligible as well, but there are no races this year.)
The Mayoral Race will not be part of this program until 2021…I don’t know the reason why. There are 21 candidates seeking the seat of our current mayor who is not running again (or may decide to do so, who knows right now. It’s a long story).
How did this free money come to be?
In 2015, we passed Initiative I-122 – “Honest Elections Seattle”. Some of the things it does:
- Lowers the limit on candidate contributions from $700 to $500
- Disallows contributions from entities or individuals who, in the prior two years have earned or received more than $250,000 through a contractual relationship with the City
- Disallows contributions from an entity or person who during the past 12 month period has paid $5,000 or more to a lobbyist
- Requires that paid signature gatherers identify themselves as such
- Prohibits former officeholders and certain top-paid staffers from lobbying the City for three years after leaving City office
.
.
And it gives every person legally living in Seattle of voting age $100 to donate to the eligible candidate of their choice
To be qualified, candidates must obtain a certain amount of signatures accompanied by individual contributions of at least $10, and go through the city’s approval process. So far 13 candidates for the various races are good to go and can use the vouchers for direct campaign expenditures.
This program is funded by a maximum property tax of $3 million per year to fund the Democracy Voucher Program for the next 10 years, and costs the average homeowner about $11.50 per year. Cheap!
The first week in January, every registered voter received their four vouchers. As it would be months before we could use them, this is what we were supposed to do:
.
.
Some of this happened as well, no doubt. The value of those vouchers not used will go back into the pot for the next city election.
As for the rest of us…we promptly lost them! Well, I didn’t actually lose mine, they just took an extended absence from that file for “Important Stuff” until they returned just recently. Other folks I’ve talked to are still looking for theirs.
But have no fear! If you’ve lost your vouchers, or if the recycle bin ate them accidentally….They can be replaced…
...And since there is no requirement to be registered to vote, nor to be a citizen (valid ID, such as a Green Card is required) and you want to get your $100...you can.
You are eligible to receive Democracy Vouchers if you are:
- A Seattle resident,
- At least 18 years of age, and
- A U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident ("green card holder"
We shall see how this first-of-its-kind method of public finance goes. It’s starting to grow on me.
I did this diary for myself as much as anyone. At some point I may need to explain this program to others, so I sought to beef up my knowledge a bit. I haven’t yet spent mine. I have until October before I need to use them, and to decide if I give them all to one candidate, or to spread them around.
Do you have any thoughts on public financing of elections?
RSVPS
1. Thinking Fella
2. Ojibwa
3. state of confusion
4. dsb
5. MotherMags
6. MTmofo
7. woolibaar
8. Mhosz
9. Mrs. Mhosz
10. Maudlin
11. Mr. Maudlin
12. Lee Montana
13.
MAYBEES :
Boise Blue
Mrs. Boise Blue
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RSVPS
1. ColoTim
2. Dr. Irene Aguilar
3. Decorina
4. justmypiece
5.
MAYBEES :
acpa +mom
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RSVPS
1. Bill in Portland Maine
2. Common Sense Mainer
3. navajo
4. markm667
5. vicki
6. vicki’s recruit 1
7. vicki’s recruit 2
8. smileycreek
9. paradise50
10. Ed Tracey
11. side pocket
12. Mrs. side pocket
13. Richard Cranium
14. YellowDogInGA
15. DebtorsPrison
16. brillig
17. mik
18. thatkid
19. K2
20. LuLu
21. moodyinsavannah
22. norm
23. Egberto Willies
24. Chris Reeves
25. Susan Grigsby
26. spedwybabs
27. Dee Austin
28. Pam Miles
29. Corrie Wikoff
30. Cindi Branham
31. Susan Higgins
32. jlms qkw
33. Larisa Thomason
34. evcoren
35. shermanesq
36. doggie269
37. jpup
38. BruinKid
39. Steve Stearns
40. loggersbrat
41. Walter Einenkel
42. Susan Gardner
43. Faith Gardner
44. Meteor Blades
45. nancyjones
46. edgery
47. SanDiegoDem
48. Will Rockafellow
49. Laura Clawson +high chair
50. Joan McCarter
51. Wagatwe Wanjuki
52. Drew Linzer
53. Mara Schechter
54. Michael Langenmayr
55. Kelly Macias
56. Gabe Ortiz
57. Monique Teal
58. scyellowdogdem
59. Kimm Lett
60. Rachel Gutauskas
61. Jeff Singer
62. Carolyn Fiddler
63. Rachel Colyer
64. Shayera Tangri
65. Irna Landrum
66. Carissa Miller
67. Jennifer Hayden
68. Susan Smith
69. JustOneMoreDad
70. Mrs. JustOneMoreDad
71. JustOneMoreDad’s kid
72. BeninSC
73. KathyinSC
74. annrose
75. shanikka
76. DAH
77. susans
78. gmats
79. 714day
80. Sandy on Signal
81. SouthDem
82. Bouapha Toommaly
83. watercarrier4diogenes
84. Chrislove
85. TrueBlueMajority
86. Wee Mama
87. peregrine kate
88. Thinking Fella
89. Denise Oliver-Velez
90. Jon Sitzman
91. Leslie Salzillo
92. Frank Vyan Walton
93. Dan Carlson
94. Arjun Jaikumar
95.
MAYBEES :
momomia
MsSpentYouth
scyellowdogdem’s nephew Matt
jotter
aha aha
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RSVPS
1. randallt
2. Joieau
3. Gordon20024
4. Otteray Scribe
5. Burns Lass
6.
MAYBEES :
eeff
Zen Trainer
Tex Dem
VeloVixen
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