August 29, 2004

Commentary: Clean Elections Can Work in West Virginia

By Janet Fout and Julie Archer

Huntington (HNN) --- In West Virginia, Citizens for Clean Elections is a broad-based coalition of 26 groups who support Clean Elections campaign finance reform. Clean Elections, a voluntary system is already law in five states - Arizona, Maine, North Carolina, New Mexico, and Vermont. Candidates who agree to abide by strict spending limits and to raise no private money can qualify for full, public financing for their campaigns. In Arizona, candidates who ran "clean" in the 2002 election now hold nine out of eleven statewide elected offices, including the governor, secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer.

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, is the first governor in the nation to take office without financial ties to special interest groups. And thirty-two out of ninety members (36%) of the Arizona legislature were elected using the Clean Elections system. In Maine, 77% of the senate and 55% of the house ran "clean." Overall, 53% of Maine and Arizona's elected officials who took office in 2003 participated in the voluntary Clean Elections system.

Since Maine and Arizona have been through two election cycles using public financing, we know that this system can work here. Arizona listed these successes in 2002:

• Clean elections candidates won state's top offices;

• Bi-partisan: Republicans and Democrats benefited;

• Increased voter participation;

• Increased voter turnout;

• Increased voter choice;

• Increased competition;

• Decreased influence of big-money special interests;

• Provided adequate funding for candidates;

• Strongly supported by the public.

More and more states are following Maine and Arizona's lead and considering versions of the Clean Elections concept. This year at least eight states including West Virginia, had Clean Elections legislation introduced in their state legislatures, and similar legislation has been introduced in Congress.

In Maine and Arizona, there are already signs that Clean Elections is giving lawmakers freedom to enact significant health care reforms. For example, on the day she was sworn into office, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano issued an executive order establishing low-cost prescription drug subsidies for seniors. In 2001, Maine overcame corporate opposition to pass a successful plan for universal health care. While Congress was passing the Medicare prescription drug bill, Maine was putting the finishing touches on Maine Rx+, a program that enables all but the wealthiest families in Maine to buy any drug on the Medicaid list for the Medicaid price.

In West Virginia, the "Public Campaign Financing Act" is currently being studied in Select Committee F. They are charged with the task of finding a funding mechanism. During the August interims (Aug. 22-24) they will be in Beckley at the Glade Springs Resort. September they are back in Charleston; and in October, the interims will be held in Shepherdstown. Now is really the best time to capture their attention-- BEFORE a busy 2005 regular session. Let them know you support a system that makes politicians accountable to the public interest, instead of special interest.

Janet Fout, Coordinator, Citizens for Clean Elections (304-522-0246 or 304-522-7557)

Julie Archer, Research Analyst, Mountain State Education and Research Foundation, 304-346-5891 or 304-524-2409.