Argument Against Proposition 34

True campaign finance reform is to require detailed reporting of all contributions and let the chips fall where they may.

Proposition 34 is an unnecessary scheme to limit the amount of money that can be spent by candidates for State office. CANDIDATES SPEND CAMPAIGN MONEY TO SEND US INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR CAMPAIGN AND THEIR POSITIONS ON ISSUES. THIS ENABLES US TO MAKE CHOICES. No money, no information.

The supporters of Proposition 34 say we should limit campaign money because contributors could unduly influence candidates or officeholders. Do you want to be dependent upon biased newspapers or news organizations to tell us what a candidate thinks rather than letting the candidate himself or herself tell you?

If a person feels so strongly about the qualities of a candidate that he or she wants to give money to help get the candidate elected, so what? If a person believes the positions of an incumbent politician are wrong, doesn't he or she have the right to financially help the opponent? ALL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NOW REPORTED. IF WE DON'T LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO GIVE MONEY TO A POLITICIAN, WE CAN VOTE AGAINST HIM OR HER!

Without a political campaign, we'd never know which of the candidates are worthy of our support. Proposition 34 would impose severe limits on campaign money. Limits so severe that most politicians would be unable to communicate effectively. Limits so severe that we might wind up electing the politician we'd heard something about—the most famous name. DO WE WANT TO LIMIT OUR CHOICE OF CANDIDATES TO A GROUP OF RICH MOVIE STARS, FAMOUS ATHLETES OR CELEBRITY TALK SHOW HOSTS?

Political campaigns cost money: money for mail advertisements, money for television and radio advertisements. We may not believe what they tell us, but it doesn't cost US anything.

Our Founding Fathers wrote a guarantee of "free speech" into the Constitution. But speech isn't free if you want a lot of people to hear it. When you outlaw campaign money, you are really outlawing effective speech in politics—and that's wrong!

VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 34!

BRETT GRANLUND, Assemblyman
65th Assembly District
BILL MORROW, Senator
38th District