Example letter, email, or telephone conversation to Senators Stegner, Davis, Little, Geddes, McKenzie, Jorgenson, and Darrington

Example letter, email, or telephone conversation to Senator Davis. You can use this letter for Senators Stegner, Davis, Little, Geddes, McKenzie, Jorgenson, and Darrington.

Honorable Senator Davis:

I ask that you do all you can to assure that the Idaho Fair Elections bill gets a hearing in the State Affairs Committee. Then vote to send this bill to the Senate with a do-pass recommendation.

I am aware of the February 2 hearing of S1037. Kate Kelly has revised S1037 to better show that the bill’s intention is to allow each Idaho election to better reflect the wishes of its constituency.

Fair Elections allows candidates, who do not wish to accept money from corporations, PACs, or lobbyists, to run for office. This gives voters the opportunity to vote for a candidate, who may better represent the voters.

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.
Fair Elections is law in Arizona; Connecticut; Maine; New Jersey; New Mexico; North Carolina; Vermont; Albuquerque; and Portland, Oregon. Activists in 28 states are working to advance full public financing. Summary of these efforts.

The people want Fair Elections. In 2006, a bipartisan survey of voters nationwide by Lake Research Partners and Bellwether Research shows 74% of voters want voluntary public funding of federal elections. Eighty percent of Democrats, 78% of Independents, and 65% of Republicans support this reform.

This is what critics and supporters of Fair Elections say:
· Critics say that candidates do not spend a lot of time getting money from corporations,
PACs, and lobbyists.
· Supporters say that the time legislators do spend raising money is better spent communicating with their constituents.
· Critics 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.
· Supporters say that free speech in the current system may be affected by those who give candidates money, whether candidates realize it or not. Supporter’s perception is that funding sources may affect how a legislator votes. Supporters 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 the people should not pay for candidates' election.
· Supporters say that the people now pay for candidates’ election. Their perception is that they do not have representation in the current system, even though they pay for it by buying products and services from those companies that do give money to candidates.
· Critics say that Fair Elections is unconstitutional because it compels some citizens to pay for the speeches of candidates, whom they oppose.
· Supporters 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. Supporters’ perception is 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.

Good Laws Caused by Fair Elections Are Evident in Maine
In 2000, the Maine Legislature approved a pharmaceutical program that gives families the chance to buy drugs at a discount. The law was upheld by the Supreme Court and went into effect in January 2004. In 2003, the legislature approved a health reform bill, known as the Dirigo Health Act, which provides health insurance to all Maine residents. Its primary features include controls on health care costs and initiatives to encourage high-quality care. It also subsidizes premiums for those who cannot afford to pay. Public funded legislators were free to support this legislation without any concern for the big-money special interests that might oppose such a law.

If I believed that the system we have now was working, I would not be asking you to pass the Idaho Fair Elections bill. When did you last talk with me about Fair Elections or any other issue?

If you want to learn more about those of us who want Fair Elections, please get in touch. Please get in touch with me before the hearing and tell me what you will do about Fair Elections and why you will do it.

If you want to get in touch with these Senators now, here they are. Click on their name to send them a message:

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