Dear Concerned Californian,

It's time to change a system that makes 78% of Californians think our state is mostly run by a few big special interests instead of for all the people.

It's time to change the way we finance election campaigns so that politicians are accountable to the voters instead of to special interests who make big campaign contributions.

So we're doing it.  But we need your help.  We are:

• League of Women Voters of California
• Sierra Club California
• California Coalition for Civil Rights
• California National Organization for Women
• California Church IMPACT
• California Clean Money Campaign

We're speaking for a coalition of over 100 organizations fighting for the best chance in years to clean up politics and let the voters take control.  The coalition also includes reform groups like California Common Cause, CalPIRG and Public Campaign, and other leading environmental, civil rights, women, religious, labor, student, and grassroots groups.

We're asking you to do two things:

1)  Sign the petition for A.B. 583, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act
2)  Forward this message to others and ask them to sign, too:

http://www.CAclean.org/petition   (Please sign it now even if you've signed before.)

CALIFORNIA NEEDS CLEAN MONEY AND FAIR ELECTIONS
You probably aren't surprised by all the campaign corruption scandals that are happening now, like Jack Abramoff buying access in Washington or California Congressman Duke Cunningham getting sentenced to over 8 years in prison for selling out our nation's defense.

It doesn't have to be this way. Arizona and Maine have Clean Money systems that have put the brakes on the political money chase. They allow qualified candidates who abide by strict spending limits to run their campaigns using public funds instead of by soliciting big checks from private donors. Clean candidates get enough funds to run viable campaigns without accepting a dime of special interest money for their campaigns.

The results have stunned the experts. 80% of the current legislators in Maine and 10 out of 11 statewide officeholders in Arizona were elected with Clean Money, including their governor. Voters have greater choices at the polls, including more women and minority candidates. Voter turnout in Arizona increased by over 20%.

Clean legislators in Arizona and Maine vote to protect the environment more often. Both states have lowered the price of prescription drugs. And in contrast to California's never-ending budget deficits fueled by giveaways to campaign contributors, both Arizona and Maine have managed to pass balanced budgets that increase funding for the services their citizens want.

http://www.CAclean.org/petition

CALIFORNIA NEEDS YOUR SIGNATURE
California deserves Clean Money, too. Thanks to the efforts of the growing Clean Money coalition and volunteers across the state, our Clean Money bill had a historic victory in January, passing through the state Assembly on a vote of 47- 31.

Now it's in the State Senate. The going will get even tougher as the special interest contributors that profit under the current system realize that the chance for true reform is real.

We don't have the money they do.  But we can win if we show the legislature we have something money can't buy:  the voice of the people.

Sign the petition for A.B. 583 now:

http://www.CAclean.org/petition

Your petition will immediately be emailed to our leaders, along with any comments you add yourself. That way Governor Schwarzenegger, Senate President pro Tem Don Perata, and your own legislators will hear from each and everybody who signs now.  So sign it now even if you've signed it before.

CALIFORNIA NEEDS YOU TO PASS IT ON
Then forward this email to your friends, family, and group so they can make their voice heard, too. We need thousands to sign the petition to make it crystal clear that Californians want their government to be accountable to the voters, not to big campaign contributors.

If you'd like more information about A.B. 583 and how Clean Money works, go to www.CAclean.org.  You can sign the petition and take other actions there.

This is the perfect time for Californians to take control of politics by demanding Clean Money. We urge you to seize the moment and make your voice heard by signing the petition now. Then pass it on.

Sincerely,

P.S.  Please forward this to as many people as possible. Every signature makes a difference.