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X-ORIGINAL-URL:http://cfr.meetup.com/42/calendar/6422101/ical/Clean+Electio
 ns+Texas+-+Houston+October+Meetup/
X-WR-CALNAME:Events - Clean Elections Texas - Houston October Meetup
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Clean Elections Texas - Houston October Meetup
DESCRIPTION:Clean Elections Texas - Houston\n\nImagine a government in whic
 h your opinions counted as much as those of professional lobbyists and the 
 megawealthy. Imagine a judicial system in which candidates for judge didn't
  have to raise money from the very attorneys and interests who one day will
  show up in their courtrooms. These aren't just dreams of true democracy\; 
 they're reality in a number of states that have passed Clean Elections legi
 slation establishing opt-in public financing of campaigns. \n\nClean Electi
 ons is a practical\, proven reform that puts voters in control of elections
 . Rather than being forced to rely on special interest donors to pay for th
 eir campaigns\, candidates have the opportunity to qualify for full public 
 funding which ends their reliance on special interest campaign cash. Being 
 freed from the money chase means they have more time to spend with constitu
 ents\, talking about issues that matter to them. When they enter office\, t
 hey can consider legislation on the merits\, without worrying about whether
  they are pleasing well heeled donors and lobbyists. \n\nIn the U.S. Congre
 ss\, Sens. Dick Durbin (D_IL) and Arlen Specter have introduced the Fair El
 ections Now Act which provide full public financing for Senate candidates. 
 A companion bill in the House is also expected soon. Clean Elections is law
  in seven states and two cities: Arizona\; Connecticut\; Maine\; New Jersey
 \; New Mexico\; North Carolina\; Vermont\; Albuquerque\, New Mexico\; and P
 ortland\, Oregon. Activists in 28 states are working to advance full public
  financing.  \n\nSeven states and two cities have Clean Elections\, or full
  public financing\, for some political offices. Three states?Arizona\, Conn
 ecticut\, and Maine?provide full public financing for all statewide and leg
 islative races. These laws have been approved through a combination of the 
 ballot process and by legislatures. \n\nClean Elections/Full Public Financi
 ng States \n  \nState/Locality \nOffice Where Public Funding Available  \nH
 ow approved \near Approved \n  \nArizona \nstatewide and legislative \ninit
 iative \n1998  \n\nConnecticut \nstatewide and legislative  \nlegislation \
 n2005 \n  \nMaine \nstatewide and legislative  \ninitiative \n1996  \n\nNew
  Jersey \nlegislative pilot project \nlegislation \n2004  \n\nNew Mexico  \
 nPublic Regulation Commission\,judicial elections\, legislation \nlegislati
 on  \n2003 & 2007 \n  \nNorth Carolina \njudicial elections & legislative p
 ilot project \nlegislation \n2002  \n\nVermont \ngovernor & lieutenant gove
 rnor  \nlegislation \n1997  \n\nAlbuquerque\, New Mexico \nCity-wide \ninit
 iative \n2005  \n\nPortland\, Oregon \nCity-wide  \nlegislation \n2005  \n\
 nClean Elections gives candidates the option to qualify for public funding 
 to run their campaigns. While the specifics vary\, typically a candidate mu
 st collect a set number of small qualifying contributions?usually $5?from p
 eople in their district. The number of signatures and contributions require
 d varies according to the office sought.  \n\nIf a candidate runs under the
  Clean Elections system and faces an opponent who is running with private c
 ontributions and outspends the publicly funded candidate\, the law typicall
 y provides a matching grant\, to a limit\, to the publicly funded candidate
 . Extra funding is also often available if there is independent spending ag
 ainst a candidate by an outside group or individual.  \n\nCandidates who ch
 oose not to be participate in the Clean Elections system can raise money fr
 om private donors\, but must follow state campaign finance limits and discl
 osure laws. Clean Elections laws must be voluntary to comply with the Supre
 me Court?s 1976 Buckley v. Valeo ruling\, which specifically approved of vo
 luntary public financing systems.\n\nAt our October Meet Up will be sharing
  information about how Maine and other states have created and benefited fr
 om Clean Elections programs for their elected officials and how we can repl
 icate their success here in Texas.  \n\nYou and your friends and family are
  cordially invited to attend! \n\nSincerely\, \n\nCharles Mauch and Kris Gr
 aham\, your Houston Meetup hosts \n\n\n\nHouston\, TX  77006 - USA\n\nMonda
 y\, October 8 at 6:00 PM\n\nAttending: 9\n\nDetails: http://cfr.meetup.com/
 42/calendar/6422101/
LAST-MODIFIED:20071011T181617Z
UID:event_6422101@meetup.com
CLASS:PUBLIC
CREATED:20070925T025045Z
DTSTAMP:20091129T122430Z
DTSTART:20071008T230000Z
DTEND:20071009T010000Z
GEO:29.74;-95.45
LOCATION:Montrose Branch Library - 4100 Montrose (One block north of Richmo
 nd)\, Downstairs (large) conference room - Houston\, TX  77006 - USA
URL:http://cfr.meetup.com/42/calendar/6422101/
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