Arizona Advocacy Network

For Immediate Release         Date: October 26, 2011         Contact:  Sam Wercinski, 602-228-4497

Voters Win…Big Money loses.

Phoenix, AZ - Today the court agreed with the Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation and declared unconstitutional an effort to repeal Arizona’s popular 1998 anti-corruption law known as Clean Elections.  The unconstitutional measure, pushed by state and national big money interests was put on the 2012 ballot by the legislature in May after much arm twisting.

“The legislature overreached again with this unconstitutional measure and trying to deceptively take money from Tucson residents is an abuse of power. I’m glad the court stopped their attempt to logroll voters,” said Tucson voter Carol West.

Speaking for the lead plaintiff, the Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation, Sam Wercinski stated “Voters won today against big-money-self-interests.  In 1998 after the AZSCAM scandal, the public recognized the corrupting influence of big money in elections and policy making. That’s why voters passed Clean Elections and continue to support it today, with a 77% approval rating.”

Governor Brewer, Terry Goddard, Secretary of State Bennett, all corporation commissioners and one third of the state legislature qualified as Clean Election candidates in 2010. This summer, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of Clean Elections as a tool to fight the corrupting influence of money in politics.

Many believe Clean Elections has helped to advance Arizona’s renewable energy standards and our state’s growing solar manufacturing industry by protecting corporation commissioners against lobbying attacks from utility and coal interests. Wercinski highlights that all three declared 2012 candidates for corporation commission are currently trying to qualify under the Clean Elections system.

“As the Fiesta Bowl political corruption scandal continues to unravel, Arizona legislators have an opportunity to strengthen Clean Elections and government for the People, not corporations. We’re here to help them achieve this,” added Sam Wercinski.

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Decision: Decision: Free Enterprise Club v. Bennett

On Line

The Supreme Court today reaffirmed the constitutionality of public financing as a means of fighting political corruption in the case Arizona Free Enterprise v. Bennett (also known as McComish v. Bennett), while striking down one mechanism used in Arizona’s program.

Read the opinion here. Read highlights from Justice Kagan's dissent.

Organization Reactions | Elections Officials | Other Comments | News Stories | Background

Statements:

The decision by the United States Supreme Court to open the floodgates to BIG MONEY influencing political campaigns makes it all the more imperative that we protect and advance Arizona's public campaign financing system as well as enact public financing for federal elections. Longtime foes of Clean Elections want to end public campaign financing in Arizona and return to a time when BIG MONEY was the primary factor deciding who would represent our communities in legislative and statewide offices. Anti-competition, anti-democracy legislators with backing from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is determined to kill Arizona’s Clean Elections and Tucson’s Clean Money programs by defunding them on the 2012 ballot.  Efforts to pass the Fair Elections Now Act--Clean Elections for federal races--have significant traction.  With the stakes high we must protect Clean Elections and Clean Money in Arizona for government of, by and for the people.

Read more...

Background:

Arizona voters passed Prop 106 in 2000 to form the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) and take control away from legislators concerned with creating their own safe districts for re-election.  A major objective was to prevent gerrymandering and to form as many competitive districts as possible.

Ask Your Congress Member to Restore Government to the People by Passing the Fair Elections Now Act!Congress has the opportunity to pass sensible reforms that ensure voters' voices are not drowned out by lobbyists and the flood of big money into campaign coffers.  Arizona Representatives Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords have already signed on as co-sponsors to the Fair Elections Now Act, HR 1826.  Please click on their names to thank them.