Election bills gain committee’s endorsement

[davidinalameda]

http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/Today/2005020721

Bills intended to require greater financial disclosure and to curb contributions to so-called 527 organizations, and to launch a pilot project for publicly financed elections won endorsement from a legislative interim committee Monday.

One draft bill recommended by the Select Committee on Campaign Finance Reform would try to get a handle on the proliferation of ads by groups such as And For the Sake of the Kids, which bought huge amounts of negative advertising in last year’s Supreme Court election. The groups are called 527 groups, after the section of the Internal Revenue Service code that covers them.

Under the bill, any person or group spending more than $10,000 on election-related advertising would have to file a disclosure with the state Elections Commission detailing all expenditures over $1,000, as well as the names of contributors.



public financing? wow

[paineinthearse]

1. Good work, W. VA. A step in the right direction. n/t

[POTGNE]

2. Either of you from the Mountain State?

I am a WV resident and the President of one of the Mountain State's Young Democrat Organizations. I wrote a letter a few days ago and e-mailed it to every member of that Select F committee on election reform. I also carbon copied the letter to newly elected Governor Manchin and to Senators R. Byrd and J. Rockefeller. Even though the two Senators have nothing to do with the in-state elections process, I want them to know where I stand on the issue. Here's a copy of my letter, but I masked my personal info.........

Dear Select Committee F Members:

I am writing to say that I would like you to vote for the proposed campaign finance reform, FACE, which would seriously put the power back into the hands of the people of West Virginia, and take it out of the hands of the special interests. This is just the type of election reform that West Virginia and every state in this nation needs. Special interest corporations and big campaign donators should not have more power than the average citizen, but under the current system, delegates, Senators, and elected officials feel indebted to these special interests when it's them who keeps the money flowing in during the campaign season and beyond.

Public financing would decrease the amount of time a candidate needs to spend on raising money and increase their ability to actually get out and hear from their proposed constituents. Reforms like these will ensure that West Virginians get the effective environmental policies, health care that works well for all of us, good schools in our communities, and fair utility rates that they deserve. We have to end the undue influence of the special interests that foot the bill for getting candidates elected. This reform can help free government lawmakers from wealthy and powerful special interest contributors who increasingly dominate the political process and decrease the perception of undue special interest influence in our political system.

Please change the FACE of West Virginia politics by voting to instill these reforms. Reforms like these can provide adequate campaign funding for individuals who do not have access to wealthy contributors. This system would provide a candidate public funding through collecting many small qualifying contributions from registered voters within his/her district, making this “voter-owned” candidate accountable to voters instead of special interest contributors. Fewer than ½ of one percent of voting age West Virginians contribute to campaigns leaving the door wide open for wealthy, special interest contributors to influence public policy. The system is in terrible need of reform, and I am trusting that you will keep me and every other West Virginia voter in mind February 7th when going in to vote on the FACE legislation. It would benefit us all, including yourselves, if you vote in favor of it. I have sent a copy of this letter to all of the Select Committee F Members, and carbon copied it to Governor Manchin. I appreciate your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
President, XXXXXXXXX County Young Democrats

[davidinalameda]

3. refugee from West Virginia

grew up and got the hell out

I love the state but I can't stand some of the people


and welcome to DU!

[wallybarron]

4. Young Dem

I hope you all are going to support CAGS and Senator Hunter in this effort this year. Don't recall hearing too much from you all on issues in the past.

Thanks in advance.

Maybe some of you can go to the Roe v Wade gala next week. Last year our great party leader Callaghan went to a basketball game that night. Would love to see some of you there. If you need tickets there are some free ones available.