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Voter-Owned Elections The people deserve to Be Heard

Voter-Owned Elections The people deserve to Be Heard. Democracy North Carolina.

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Voter-Owned Elections The people deserve to Be Heard

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  1. Voter-Owned Elections • The people deserve to • Be Heard

  2. Democracy North Carolina • Democracy North Carolina is a nonpartisan organization that uses research, organizing, and advocacy to increase voter participation, reduce the influence of big money in politics and achieve a government that is truly of the people, for the people and by the people. Voter-Owned Elections are vital to building a government that answers to the people.

  3. Voter-Owned Elections PEOPLE can run for office without special interest backing. Candidates can concentrate on the issues important to the PEOPLE. A way for the people to be heard at every step. Public policies are driven by the PEOPLE, not by special interests Elected officials are beholden to the PEOPLE instead of to big donors.

  4. Why We Need VOE Now • We must restore the integrity of our government and electoral system: • We must fight ethical corruption triggered by big money politics. • We must protect the voice of the people in the wake of Citizens United. • We must ensure the public’s interest is respected during major policy debates.

  5. Is money in politics really • a problem?

  6. The Problem Is Real • The high cost of public office is eroding our democracy: • Potential candidates are opting not to run, robbing voters of choice in leadership. • Donors feel pressured to give big sums and many want something in return for their “investment.” • Citizens see how policy is skewed by special interests and lose confidence in government.

  7. Rising Costs in North Carolina Total dollars spent running for both houses of the NC General Assembly in Presidential election years: Source: The Program On Public Life

  8. $ 17.7 million $ 8.5 million $ 2.7 million $ 19.5 million $ 6.4 million $ 5.6 million The Problem Is Systemwide • Sample 2008 fundraising and spending totals: • Kay Hagan Bev Perdue Walter Dalton • Elizabeth Dole Pat McCrory Robert Pittenger

  9. Whose voice is being heard? • The typical NC campaign contributor: • 97% are white. • 73% are men. • 81% have annual incomes exceeding $100,000. Less than 1% of North Carolina gives 90% of ALL campaign contributions in the state.

  10. Whose voice is shaping policy debate? Top industries contributing dollars to federal level candidates from NC during 2008: Source: Center for Responsible Politics

  11. Whose voice is shaping policy debate? Top industries contributing dollars to federal level candidates from NC in the first Quarter of 2010: Source: Center for Responsible Politics

  12. The Power of Special Interests • 2008 donations to NC campaigns: Lawyers/Law Firms $ 2,752,813 Real Estate $ 1,920,982 Education $ 1,616,590 Health Professionals $ 1,298,423 Commercial Banks $ 1,207,582 Pharmaceuticals/Health Products $ 988,668 Business Services $ 967,428 Tobacco $ 80,820 These are donations to federal candidates and political parties only: state level candidates added even more!

  13. NC Realtors Association • Citizens for Higher Education • NC Medical Society • NC Home Builders Association • Academy of Trial Lawyers • Progress Energy • Bank of America • Nationwide Insurance • NC Hospital Association Duke Energy WHYdo PACs give so much? • Top 10 PAC’s in North Carolina:

  14. The Cost Of Special Interests A case in point – the powerful NC pollution lobby: • Donates $10,000 for every $100 donated by pro-environmental PACs. • Supports dozens of lobbyists in Raleigh. • Not only influences legislation affecting the environment – sometimes they WRITE it. Who pays for the clean-up and health costs triggered by pollution? NC taxpayers.

  15. The Cost Of Special Interests • A case in point – Duke Energy: • Its senior executives and PAC have given nearly $750,000 to NC candidates since 2005. • Duke Energy’s PAC ranks each year as one of the top 5 company-sponsored PACs in NC. • Duke gives this money even as it seeks favorable treatment on controversial energy policies. • The resulting policies affect public health, the economy and the environment.

  16. We Pay the Price In Other Ways • Fundraising overshadows the issues: we don’t know where candidates stand. • People lose confidence in government: power cedes to special interests. • Special interests get large tax breaks: state revenues suffer. • Fewer people run for office: without new leadership, nothing ever changes.

  17. The Consensus Is Clear • An April 2010 poll showed: • 91% of North Carolinians believe campaign contributors influence public policy decisions. • 80% of NC voters believe the high cost of campaigning keeps qualified candidates from running for office. • 80% also believe that state lawmakers listen more to groups that fund their campaigns than to voters. • 71% of all NC voters favor a major overhaul to the state’s campaign finance system.

  18. What can be done to change the way we elect leaders?

  19. Support Voter-Owned Elections • What are Voter-Owned Elections? • Voluntary programs that provide money to candidates running for specific offices. • Strict program requirements ensure only truly viable candidates qualify to receive program funds. • Qualifying candidates receive program grants in exchange for accepting spending limits. • Sometimes called Fair Elections, Clean Elections or Public Campaign Financing.

  20. VOE Lets The People Be Heard Who decides who runs for office? THE VOTERS OF NORTH CAROLINA Who decides what candidates talk about? THE VOTERS OF NORTH CAROLINA Who are officials accountable to? THE VOTERS OF NORTH CAROLINA Whose interests do policies reflect? THE VOTERS OF NORTH CAROLINA

  21. Other Benefits of VOE • Proven alternative / ruled constitutional. • Widespread, bi-partisan public support. • Opens doors for more candidates. • Enforces accountability. • Makes room for real policy debate. • Strengthens democracy by eliminating conflicts of interest and restoring confidence.

  22. Embraced By Voters & Politicians “[With Voter-Owned Elections] the voice of the voter who has just $10 to contribute speaks as strongly as the one with $4,000 in races without public financing.”  June Atkinson, North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction

  23. How does a • Voter-Owned Elections program • work?

  24. How a VOE Program Works • Step 1: Candidate decides to seek public funds. VOE programs are voluntary. • Step 2: Candidate proves he or she is a viable candidate. • Step 3: Qualifying candidates receive a program grant to fund his or her campaign. • Step 4: Candidates must abide by strict program rules and return unused funds.

  25. VOE Candidate Standards • Strict program rules protect the public trust and the program’s integrity: • Small donor thresholds must be met to qualify. • Private fundraising after qualifying is prohibited. • Large donations from individuals and PAC’s are prohibited at all times. • Candidates may only use a limited amount of their personal money before qualifying.

  26. How do we pay • for Voter-Owned Elections?

  27. Funding Varies With The Program • No tax increase is necessary: • Programs can be paid for through fees on companies doing business with the state. • Some VOE program proposals call for voluntary funding by non-public sources. • A penny per day per adult in NC would cover the cost for all state level races. • Just closing some tax loopholes would also pay for VOE for all state level races.

  28. VOE Can Even Enhance Revenues • Special interest tax breaks are reduced. • Special interest legislation is reduced. …each year, millions in special tax breaks are granted to big campaign donors in our state. Closing those loopholes would bring millions into our state’s coffers. Remember…

  29. North Carolina • is a national • VOE leader

  30. VOE in North Carolina • Programs are being implemented at the state and local levels. • The N.C. Public Campaign Fund for NC Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges began in 2004. • A Council of State program covering 3 offices was a huge success when it debuted in 2008. • A local pilot program began in Chapel Hill in 2009 and proved successful.

  31. Special Interest Donations in Thousands The Power of VOE The Insurance Commissioner’s race proved VOE reduces special interest influence: Special interest donations have plummeted.

  32. The Power of VOE The Insurance Commissioner’s race proved VOE can compete against the big money system:

  33. The People Are Being Heard “[The VOE program] has engaged and involved a myriad of voters who never contributed or paid much attention to an Insurance Commissioner campaign before. Their involvement is great for democracy.”  Wayne Goodwin, North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance

  34. VOE Is Gaining Steam Nationally • Statewide and local VOE programs now exist in six states, with all programs proving successful. • NC’s U.S. Rep. Walter Jones is a primary sponsor of a federal public campaign financing bill called the “Fair Elections Now Act” for Congressional races. • Other NC co-sponsors of the federal bill include Rep. G.K. Butterfield, Rep. Larry Kissell, Rep. Brad Miller, Rep. David Price, and Rep. Mel Watt. • Citizens United has inspired growing support for VOE across the United States.

  35. What’s • ahead for • VOE?

  36. The Future of VOE • Our 2010 Legislative Priorities: • Expand VOE to include the other 5 Council of State agency races. • Allow other local governments to adopt VOE programs if a town’s citizens want VOE. • Expand VOE to include pilot legislative races. • Support passage of the federal Fair Elections Now Act as soon as possible.

  37. Momentum Favors VOE • Ethical scandals have underscored the need to eliminate conflicts of interest. • Citizens United made many people realize the voices of citizens are in danger. • Recent policy debates have highlighted how special interests corrupt the policy process. • Politicians are feeling the pressure from constituents and calling for reform.

  38. BE HEARD • Support Voter-Owned Elections! • Learn all you can about VOE • Contact legislators: voice support for VOE. • Educate others via workshops, seminars and hand-outs. • Write letters to the editor: ask us how. • Check YES to the $3 N.C. Public Campaign Fund on your NC tax return.

  39. For More Information: • Democracy North Carolina • www.democracy-nc.org • NC Voters for Clean Elections Coalition • www.ncvce.org

  40. Support Voter-Owned Elections The people deserve to Be Heard

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