Campaign Finance Reform

By Jo Chamberlain

I support public financing of campaigns. Corruption starts with contributions to campaigns. We must free our representatives from this dependence so they can truly serve the people.

Assembly candidates are "limited" to spending $1.1 million in the 2002 election cycle--unless they dedice to spend more. With 50,000 votes needed to win: that's $20 per vote. It means raising $10,000 for re-election every week of the two-year term. That money isn't coming from you and me, and it's not being spent idly.

Money talks, and in politics it talks loudly enough to drown us out. Elected officials are influenced by corporate, special interest and personal contributions. Public financing of campaigns can return the interests of the government to the people.