To: The Nevada State House, The Nevada State Senate, and Governor Steve Sisolak
Campaign Finance Reform for Fair Elections in NV
Nevada must instate a public financed campaign system, similar to those being used in Minnesota & Connecticut, which incorporates constitutionally sound best practices such as the following:
Candidates agree to only accept small contributions from individuals, and agree to a ban on lobbyist contributions, to qualify for a combination of public matching funds and grants for their campaigns.
Candidates must raise a threshold of funds consisting of small contributions from individual residents from their home states to qualify.
Once candidates qualify, they receive an initial public grant, based on historic campaign spending averages, and earn a 3:1 match on small contributions up to a spending ceiling of triple the initial grant for the primary.
Candidates may continue to raise unmatched individual small contributions over and above the spending ceiling.
Candidates who advance to the general election receive an initial public grant, earn a 3:1 match on contributions up to a general elections spending ceiling of triple the initial grant, and may raise unmatched individual small contributions beyond that point.
All candidates are required to submit campaign finance records, monthly between elections and weekly during elections, to a user friendly and publicly searchable electronic filing system.
Spending ceilings need to be high enough for adequate advocacy and candidates opting in must be rewarded by doing so without overly penalizing those that don’t.
Candidates agree to only accept small contributions from individuals, and agree to a ban on lobbyist contributions, to qualify for a combination of public matching funds and grants for their campaigns.
Candidates must raise a threshold of funds consisting of small contributions from individual residents from their home states to qualify.
Once candidates qualify, they receive an initial public grant, based on historic campaign spending averages, and earn a 3:1 match on small contributions up to a spending ceiling of triple the initial grant for the primary.
Candidates may continue to raise unmatched individual small contributions over and above the spending ceiling.
Candidates who advance to the general election receive an initial public grant, earn a 3:1 match on contributions up to a general elections spending ceiling of triple the initial grant, and may raise unmatched individual small contributions beyond that point.
All candidates are required to submit campaign finance records, monthly between elections and weekly during elections, to a user friendly and publicly searchable electronic filing system.
Spending ceilings need to be high enough for adequate advocacy and candidates opting in must be rewarded by doing so without overly penalizing those that don’t.
Why is this important?
The only viable way to create a modern campaign finance system that enables candidates to swear off special interest money and to run vigorous campaigns is to implement a public financed system that relies on a blend of small donor and public funds. Doing so has been proven to end the pervasive conflict of interest created by the current system, open the door to greater involvement by citizens in the electoral process and restore a measure of confidence by the American people in the integrity of their institutions and in the people who serve them. Most importantly, it liberates members of all political parties from the endless pursuit of money that begins when they assume office, and instead allows them to concentrate on the people’s business. Such a system renews the people’s faith that politicians are working diligently on their true responsibilities and the core purpose of representative government.