Proposition 4 – Public Campaign Financing
IJ Action Recommendation: VOTE YES
Summary
Prop 4 would end the statewide ban which prohibits the state and local governments from providing public financing for political campaigns.
Supporters Say
Supporters argue that public financing of campaigns will help reduce the influence of wealthy corporations in politics. They point out that Prop 4 would not require local jurisdictions to create a public finance program for candidates - it simply would lift the ban and allow local governments to provide public funding if they choose to. This measure is supported by clean-money campaign advocates, such as Working Families Party, The League of Women Voters of CA, Common Cause, and the California Clean Money Campaign.
Opponents Say
Opponents argue that public financing of political campaigns forces taxpayers to support candidates that they may not choose to support, and the costs of local jurisdictions setting up their public finance rules could be costly as well. Opponents include the CA Republican Party, Reform CA, and the California Taxpayers Association.
IJ Action Recommendation
VOTE YES. Many countries around the world use public funds to finance political campaigns, and this strategy reduces the influence of corporations and wealthy individuals trying to protect their interests. This empowers smaller donors and makes politics more fair.
Yes Website
No Website
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