The Idaho Fair Elections Act, on February 2, 2007, in the Senate State Affairs Committee failed. The seven Republicans voted NO and the two Democrats voted YES. I was reacting on that day, by testifying for Fair Elections to the Committee. Senator Bart Davis criticized the Whereas part of the bill, where the bill said legislators must spend time raising money. Senator Davis said he does not, much like an attorney, who tries to discredit a witness. Senator Stegner said the bill violates the one man one vote idea. That idea, which is from women's suffrage, where it was one person, one vote, also is immaterial, because it has nothing to do with the Fair Elections Act, because a candidate need not participate in Fair Elections and is free to run for election as he has been doing. Senators Jorgenson, Little, Darrington, Geddes, McKenzie voted No but said nothing at the hearing. Fair Elections is not a partisan issue in either Maine or Arizona, who have Fair Elections. Why it was in this committee is a question for the seven Republicans who voted No.
Will you help with Fair Elections this coming Idaho Legislature Session?
Last session the State Affairs Committee held the Idaho Fair Elections Act (S1037) in the committee, which stops Fair Elections in Idaho. I testified for Fair Elections and watched the 7 Republicans vote No and the two Democrats vote Yes. That vote stopped S1037, last February 2.
This session, Senator Kate Kelly has revised S1037, eliminating the objections of Senator Davis and Senator Stegner, who expressed their objections last session. The bill will not have a hearing in the State Affairs Committee, if people in the districts of Senators Stegner, Davis, Little, Geddes, McKenzie, Jorgenson, and Darrington do not demand that they give Fair Elections (S1037) a hearing. The districts are 3, 7, 11, 12, 27, 31, 33.
With Fair Elections, people can get elected based on their character, track record, and ideas, rather than their wealth or ability to raise large sums of money. Help make our country a nation of, by, and for the people, rather than of, by, and for the wealthy powerful interests.
Details of Fair Elections in Idaho is at http://fp1.centurytel.net/democracy/
Please tell me how many people in your district you will call, send email, or write to your Senator and ask him to give S1037, The Idaho Fair Elections Act, a hearing in the State Affairs Committee and send S1037 to the Senate with a do-pass recommendation.
I can send you an example letter and an example statement you can use to communicate your wish for Fair Elections to your Senator.
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Here is a Letter You Can Send to Your Senator for Fair Elections
If you live in Legislative Districts 3, 7, 11, 12, 27, 31, 33, then your legislator should hear from you about Fair Elections. You can use this example letter. More information is at http://fp1.centurytel.net/democracy/.
Example letter, email, or telephone conversation to Senator Davis. You can use this letter for Senators Stegner, Davis, Little, Geddes, McKenzie, Jorgenson, and Darrington.
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Honorable Senator Davis:
Please insist that the Senate State Affairs Committee hear the Idaho Fair Elections bill this up-coming legislative session. Please vote to send this bill to the Senate with a do-pass recommendation.
We are aware of the February 2 hearing of S1037. That you held the bill in committee is not acceptable, because it does not reflect the wishes of the people. We are aware that Fair Elections could change your election procedure, should you choose to use Fair Elections. If you do not choose to apply for Fair Elections funding, you are free to run as you have been running for office.
Fair Elections will allow those of us, who do not want to accept money from corporations, PACs, or lobbyists, to run for office as Fair Elections candidates.
The Fair Elections Now bill is in the federal government, sponsored by Richard Durban and Arlen Specter in the Senate. John Larson will soon introduce a similar bill in the House. More than 60 million people - including the AFL-CIO, the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, the Dolores Huerta Foundation, the National Council of Churches and others - have announced their support of this legislation. This shows the nationwide number of people who want Fair Elections. In Maine, 81 percent of all candidates for state office ran public campaigns in 2006. Other programs are in Arizona, North Carolina, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico, Vermont, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Portland, Oregon.
Critics of Fair Elections say that incumbents may not like Fair Elections, because incumbents already know how to get money from corporations, PACs, and lobbyists and already know how to function in office. Whether funding sources affect your vote is not in question. Your right to free speech is not affected by Fair Elections, because you are free to use Fair Elections funding or not use it. Your free speech in the current system may be affected by those who give you money, whether you realize it or not. It is our perception that your funding sources may affect how you vote. Critics say that the people should not pay for candidates' election. We, the people, now pay for candidates’ election. Our perception is that we do not have representation in the current system, even though we pay for it by buying products and services from those companies that do give you money. Critics of Fair Elections may say that the award of matching funds to publicly financed candidates chills the free-speech rights of groups that make independent expenditures and also coerce candidates into running with public funding. We say that matching funds provide a level playing field, so that candidates can respond to attacks and ads made by independent groups. Critics say that Fair Elections is unconstitutional because it compels some citizens to pay for the speeches of candidates whom they oppose. We say that the law provides public funding that allows ordinary people to run for office and get their message out without becoming politically dependent on big campaign contributors. It is our perception that in government now, only the rich can decide what happens. Fair Elections is about taking special interest money out of the campaign, returning power to the people, having candidates participate in debates, and adding substance to issues, rather than just using slick advertisements.
If the system we have now was working for the people, we would not be asking you to pass the Idaho Fair Elections bill. When did you talk with us about Fair Elections or any other issue?
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More information is at http://fp1.centurytel.net/democracy/
You can find your Senator here: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/about/contactbyname.cfm
Here are the Senators:
Senator Robert L. Geddes , Republican
District 31, Soda Springs
370 Mountain View Ave., Soda Springs, 83276
Home (208) 547-2423
FAX (208) 334-2320
Environmental Engineer
Senator Denton Darrington , Republican
District 27, Declo
302 S. Hwy. 77, Declo, 83323
Home (208) 654-2712
Farmer/Teacher
Senator Bart M. Davis , Republican
District 33, Idaho Falls
2638 S Bellin Circle, Idaho Falls, 83402
Home (208) 529-4993
Bus (208) 522-8100
FAX (208) 522-1334
Attorney
Senator Joe Stegner , Republican
District 7, Lewiston
216 Prospect Blvd., Lewiston, 83501
Home (208) 743-3032
FAX (208) 743-3032
Retired Grain Dealer
Senator Brad Little , Republican
District 11, Emmett
P.O. Box 488, Emmett, 83617-0488
Home (208) 365-6566
Bus (208) 365-4611
FAX (208) 365-4615
Rancher
Senator Michael Jorgenson , Republican
District 3, Hayden Lake
2953 Point Hayden Dr, Hayden Lake, 83835
Home (208) 762-5514
Bus (208) 762-7784
FAX (208) 762-1485
Consultant
Senator Curt McKenzie , Republican
District 12, Boise
McKenzie Law Offices, PLLC, 1004 W Fort St, Boise, 83702
Home (208) 468-1027
Bus (208)344-4379
FAX (208) 947-0014
Attorney
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