Clean Elections 2007

Senate Bill 182/Assembly Bill 355

February 28, 2008

Senate Bill 182 is the Risser-Pocan Clean Elections bill modeled after the highly successful campaign finance systems already in operation in Arizona and Maine and recently enacted in Connecticut. The legislation calls for full public financing of all state races.

SB 182 is based on step two in the Democracy Campaign’s “Power to the Voter” agenda - voter-owned elections. SB 182 was introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Campaign Finance Reform, Rural Issues and Information Technology on May 14, 2007. A companion bill was introduced and referred to the Assembly Committee on Elections and Constitutional Law as Assembly Bill 355 on May 23.

A public hearing was held on SB 182 and Senate Bill 160 on January 29, 2008 (WDC testimony). The committee approved SB 182 on a 3-1 vote on February 28, 2008.