2008 Woodie Awards
College Democrats: Campaign Finance Reform
Tara A. Rowe
Issue date: 2/22/06 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 2 next >
The National Democratic Party Platform states: "It is the priority of the Democratic Party to fulfill the promise of election reform."
What does this mean? Not only does this include voting system technology, it includes campaign finance reform. The Idaho Democratic Party Platform (adopted 6/19/04) states: "We endorse full public financing of political campaigns modeled on other states' Clean Money-Clean Elections reforms." What are Clean Money-Clean Elections reforms?
The Clean Money-Clean Elections (CMCE) reform approach is a positive alternative to the current system of fundraising and spending in political campaigns. Currently fundraising and spending centers around large amounts of special-interest money. The CMCE approach gives qualified candidates the opportunity to run for public office while maintaining their independence from special-interest groups' obvious strong interest in public policy.
Clean Money- Clean Elections reform is completely voluntary. Candidates do not have to participate and are allowed to continue campaigning under the current system of raising and spending private money. There are four essential components of the CMCE approach: qualifications, primary funding, general election funding, and independent expenditures relating to non-participating candidates.
For a candidate to be qualified, he/she must meet ballot access requirements and the "eligibility threshold" for Clean Money funding. Most CMCE proposals require candidates to collect a certain number of signatures and $5 qualifying contributions from registered voters in their state or respective district during a specified qualifying period. Seed money (money from private contributors not to exceed $100 per contributor) may be used during the qualifying period to cover start-up costs.
Primary funding for candidates who meet CMCE qualifications and requirements that have agreed to not raise or spend private money post-qualifying period includes a set monetary amount from the Clean Money fund.
What does this mean? Not only does this include voting system technology, it includes campaign finance reform. The Idaho Democratic Party Platform (adopted 6/19/04) states: "We endorse full public financing of political campaigns modeled on other states' Clean Money-Clean Elections reforms." What are Clean Money-Clean Elections reforms?
The Clean Money-Clean Elections (CMCE) reform approach is a positive alternative to the current system of fundraising and spending in political campaigns. Currently fundraising and spending centers around large amounts of special-interest money. The CMCE approach gives qualified candidates the opportunity to run for public office while maintaining their independence from special-interest groups' obvious strong interest in public policy.
Clean Money- Clean Elections reform is completely voluntary. Candidates do not have to participate and are allowed to continue campaigning under the current system of raising and spending private money. There are four essential components of the CMCE approach: qualifications, primary funding, general election funding, and independent expenditures relating to non-participating candidates.
For a candidate to be qualified, he/she must meet ballot access requirements and the "eligibility threshold" for Clean Money funding. Most CMCE proposals require candidates to collect a certain number of signatures and $5 qualifying contributions from registered voters in their state or respective district during a specified qualifying period. Seed money (money from private contributors not to exceed $100 per contributor) may be used during the qualifying period to cover start-up costs.
Primary funding for candidates who meet CMCE qualifications and requirements that have agreed to not raise or spend private money post-qualifying period includes a set monetary amount from the Clean Money fund.