Denver Post

Will campaign reform work?
YES: Get big money out of politics
By Gerry Cummins

Sunday, September 29, 2002 - As election season gets into full swing, big money is once again flooding into our politics. There are three major problems with the current system: Money is swamping our politics; voters are bombarded with negative attack ads and smear campaigns; and special-interest influence is drowning out the voices of Colorado voters. That's why the League of Women Voters is working with grassroots organizations throughout the state to spread the word: Vote "yes" on Amendment 27, and get big money out of politics.

Money is swamping the system. In the last several years, Colorado has seen skyrocketing campaign spending - and there is no end in sight. During the 2000 election cycle, several state legislative candidates spent well over $150,000 to win an office that pays $30,000 annually and only meets four months a year. This year, campaign spending is shattering those records, as some races surpass $200,000 and even $300,000 in campaign spending. In one state Senate contest, one of the candidates has already raised more than $250,000. Since fundraising is so important, the focus for candidates is not talking to the voters they want to represent, but rather raising money from the wealthy individuals and special interests who can bankroll their campaigns. The result is less time talking to voters and more 30-second attack ads; fewer town hall meetings and neighborhood rallies; and more $500-a-plate dinners.

Candidates are raising and spending more money than ever before, but it is not improving the quality of our elections. Voters are bombarded by 30-second attack ads and secretive groups running smear campaigns. Rather than focusing on people and ideas, many campaigns become a battle of TV ads where sound bites and attacks rule. Even worse, many of these attacks are financed by so-called "educational committees" that run ads but don't have to disclose who is behind them.

Finally, our politics are dominated by special interests whose campaign contributions drown out the voices of Colorado voters. Corporations like Qwest and WorldCom can't vote but are allowed to make campaign contributions to impact public policy. Indeed, since January 2000, Qwest has given more than $250,000 to candidates for state office and political parties here in Colorado. Not coincidentally, Qwest was able to successfully lobby for an exemption to Colorado's telemarketing no-call list. The federal government and many other states have long banned direct contributions from corporations and labor unions, but here in Colorado they remain unchecked.

Our democracy shouldn't be for sale to the highest bidder. Amendment 27 will ensure that people and ideas, not money, are most important in our politics. Voting "yes" on Amendment 27 will curb skyrocketing campaign spending, stop huge contributions from wealthy special interests, and require full disclosure for the now anonymous deceptive campaign ads.

Amendment 27 sets voluntary spending limits, ranging from $65,000 for a statehouse seat to $2.5 million for the governor's race. There are strong incentives in the initiative to encourage candidates to abide by them, so that races are about more than just fundraising. As a result, politicians will talk to regular folks in their campaigns, and average Coloradans won't be priced out of our politics.

In addition, Amendment 27 will stop huge campaign contributions from wealthy special interests. It bans direct contributions from corporations and labor unions, the way federal election laws and many other states' laws do. The initiative also sets reasonable contribution limits, from $200 per primary and per general election for a legislative seat to $500 per election for statewide offices.

With these limits, successful candidates will need to build support from a broad base of voters, not just the few who write big checks. The U.S. Supreme Court, in January 2000, made it clear that states have the right to set reasonable contribution limits, like those in the initiative, to stop the threat of corruption from large campaign contributions.

Amendment 27 also will shine the spotlight on campaign fundraising and spending, so voters will know who is paying for campaign ads and mailings. Amendment 27 will put an end to deceptive attacks without attribution. This isn't the first time Colorado voters have acted to clean up our politics. In 1996, voters overwhelmingly passed a similar initiative. Unfortunately, in 2000, the General Assembly's leadership ignored the will of the voters and gutted the law. This time, since Amendment 27 is a constitutional amendment, the measure will be out of their reach.

On Nov. 5, voters will have an opportunity to get big money out of politics. Vote "yes" on Amendment 27. It is time to make people and ideas more important than money in our politics.