CONTACT SENATE LEADER DON PERATA NOW!

May 13, 2006

California's historic opportunity for an open and accountable government is coming to a crucial test this Wednesday, May 17, and it needs your help. Your phone call to Senate President pro Tem Don Perata can make the difference!

Assembly Member Loni Hancock's AB 583, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act, passed through the Assembly in January by a 47-31 vote, but it now faces a difficult test in the Senate Elections Committee. Senate President pro Tem Don Perata has publicly said he supports AB 583, but we need him to do everything he can to help it pass.

Please call Senator Perata's office at (916) 651-4009 or (510) 286-1333 and tell them that you'd like to thank Senator Perata for supporting AB 583, the Clean Money bill, and tell him how much it would mean to you if he'd do everything he can to help it pass.

That's all you have to say! It will just take a minute.

If you'd like, you can add things like:

• California needs his leadership on this critical issue.
• Clean Money will help restore the voters' faith in their government and democracy.
• The positive changes public funding of campaigns will make will be well worth the small extra cost.
• You can't wait to have elections decided by ideas, not by money.
• Please make sure it passes in as strong a form as possible.

Senators Debra Bowen (chair ), Jim Battin (vice chair), Kevin Murray, Charles Poochigian, and Gloria Romero are the members of the Senate Elections Committee. If you are in one of their districts, please also call your senator and urge him or her to vote for AB 583 on Wednesday.     (Who is my State Senator?)

Phone numbers are:

Bowen: 310-318-6994, 916-651-4028

Battin: 760-568-0408, 951-653-9502, 916-651-4037

Murray: 310-641-4391, 916-651-4026

Poochigian: 559-253-7122, 209-599-8540, 916-651-4014

Romero: 323-881-0100, 626-337-2760, 916-651-4024

LEAGUE POSITION: The League of Women Voters believes that the methods of financing political campaigns should ensure the public's right to know, combat corruption and undue influence, enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office and allow maximum citizen participation in the political process.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Donna Chipps, Campaign Financing Off-Board Program Director, cf@lwvc.org

Learn more about AB 583 at the Web site for Clean Money, Fair Elections.

KEEP US INFORMED: Send an e-mail to advocacy@lwvc.org to let us know what action you have taken and any responses you receive.