CLEAN MONEY FOR STATEWIDE & LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGNS

WHEREAS: The amount of money needed in order to run for public office and to compete against big monied interests and PACs has grown phenomenally in politics at the local, state, and national levels in the past several years; and

WHEREAS: This pay-to-play system hinders the average citizen lacking great wealth from participating effectively in the political arena, thus undermining the democratic process; and

WHEREAS: Public financing of political campaigns will both improve voters' access to their elected officials and keep elected officials from spending inordinate amounts of their time fundraising.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the California Democratic Party supports a clean money system for elected statewide and legislative offices and looks to systems working successfully in Arizona and Maine for patterns that could be adopted for California's unique electoral circumstances; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this Resolution be provided to members of the Democratic Caucus of the California Legislature and Congressional Delegation.