Why do we need
public campaign funding?
  

Democracy in America is threatened. Increasingly, ordinary citizens have lost their influence over lawmaking and public policy, because candidates must raise huge sums to run for office, and because our elected representatives — often concerned about financing their next campaign — tend to follow the bidding of big donors rather than the true interests of voters in their district. The result is public policies that often fail to meet the needs and desires of most Americans.

Furthermore, citizens are increasingly cynical and jaded toward our political system and politicians, with declining participation in our democracy and low turnout in voting. Too many people say, "What's the use?"

We need full public financing of election campaigns so that candidates who represent the people can afford to run, and so that once in office, elected representatives are not obligated to special interests and their lobbyists, for fear of losing campaign contributions. This won't solve all of our problems, but it will go a long way to breaking the link between big donors and public officials and to restoring a government "of, by, and for the people."

This work is not just a pipe dream.
The states of Maine and Arizona have led the way, adopting public financing of election campaigns through citizen initiatives. Each year in those states, more candidates choose to run with what is called Clean Money, Clean Elections, or Clean Campaigns. The result has been higher voter turnout, wider discussion of important issues, and new laws that benefit the majority of citizens.

Washington Public Campaigns seeks public financing of all election campaigns in Washington. We want to launch a statewide conversation about how we might reclaim our democracy — and our voice — by limiting the influence of money in lawmaking.

Progress in Washington
In March, 2008, we achieved a legislative success:
approval of a "local option" law (SSB 5278) that lifts a 16-year ban on using public funds for election campaigns at the local level. So now cities, counties, ports and PUDs can create programs of optional public financing for campaigns for local office.

In the past, Seattle offered public financing to candidates for city council races — and the program was successful through five election cycles. But in 1992, voters statewide approved Initiative 134 — touted as "campaign finance reform" but which contained fine print that outlawed using public funds in any way for state and local campaigns — a ban that has now ended.

With approval of the local option law, WPC has begun working with several local cities and counties to design and establish "Voter-Owned Elections" programs, whereby candidates running for local office could choose to run their campaign on public funds, agreeing to abide by spending limits, to accept no further private contributions and to use no more of their own money. In exchange they receive funding sufficient to run a credible campaign. The 2008 local option law requires that any public financing program created by local government be submitted to voters in a referendum, for their approval before it can go into effect. (See "Voter-Owned Elections Programs for Cities and Counties: Opportunity and Design" PDF)

With WPC's urging and participation, the Seattle City Council established an advisory committee to design and recommend an updated public financing program (See Seattle Resolution PDF). Similarly in Olympia, WPC's Thurston County chapter designed and submitted a proposed Voter-Owned Elections program to the city council, which has referred the matter to committee for recommendations as to next steps. And we're consulting with leaders in Spokane, King County, the Seattle Port Commission, Pierce County/Tacoma and elsewhere, all of whom are exploring the opportunities now available to establish public financing for local races.

The Road Ahead for Clean Campaigns / Public Financing
Washington State should establish public financing for campaigns for supreme court seats — so that the court remains independent, impartial, and without a hint of influence by private campaign donors.
(See Proposal and commentary).

In addition, we are encouraging action at the federal level, to establish public financing for campaigns for the U.S. Senate and Congress.
(See proposed legislation).

We can do it! But grassroots support is essential.

We can achieve our dream of a democracy that works — so that anyone with good ideas and community support can successfully run for office, and so that lawmakers and public officials can represent constituents without undue influence by special interest donors. But it will take an informed public, organized as citizen lobbyists and mobilized into action — truly an ongoing grassroots campaign to work for "a more perfect union" as envisioned in our nation's founding documents.

Our movement is capturing public attention and support in Washington. Membership in WPC is growing and we have more coalition allies. Please jump aboard! Join WPC

Additional commentary: read The Road Ahead 2008

A better way: the fight for clean campaigns

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This article was updated August 2008

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