Campaign Finance Measures on the 2000 Ballot

Campaign finance reform has been one of the hottest topics of the initiative process for the last decade, and shows no signs of disappearing. Voters in three states will cast their votes on proposed campaign finance reform measures on November 7.

California voters will consider Proposition 34, a measure referred to the ballot by the Legislature. It would establish limits for contributions to legislative and statewide candidates. The limits would range from $3,000 per election for legislative candidates up to $20,000 for gubernatorial candidates. The limits on legislative candidates would become effective on January 1, 2001, but the gubernatorial limits would not go into effect until after the next gubernatorial election. The measure would also increase disclosure requirements, establish voluntary spending limits and designate in the voter information pamphlet which candidates agree to abide by the limits, and prohibit lobbyists from contributing to the campaigns of officials they lobby. Currently, California is one of just six states with no limits on campaign contributions. Voters have passed campaign finance reform before in California. They passed Proposition 208 in 1996, enacting contribution limits as low as $100 for certain candidates. The limits in Prop. 208 were found unconstitutional before they could be implemented, and that measure is still making its way through the judicial system.

Missouri (Amendment 1) and Oregon (Measure 6) voters will consider "Clean Elections" initiatives. The clean elections model establishes an extensive system of public financing for campaigns. Candidates who choose to participate in the public funding program agree to forego nearly all private contributions and in return receive state-funded grants to run their campaigns. Maine was the first state to pass clean elections public financing, via an initiative in 1996. The Vermont Legislature enacted a similar measure in 1997, and voters in Arizona and Massachusetts passed similar initiative measures on the 1998 ballot. These programs are operating in the 2000 elections in Arizona, Maine and Vermont. The Massachusetts measure won't kick in until the 2002 elections.

To read a State Legislatures magazine article about how state campaign finance laws are working in the 2000 elections, click here.

Jennie Drage Bowser tracks initiatives and referendums, and may be reached at 303-364-7700 or elections-info@ncsl.org.