It may have been snowing, but that did not deter members of the Brown chapter of Democracy Matters from trekking down to the state house Tuesday afternoon, posters in hand, for a press conference in support of the Rhode Island Public Financing of Elections Act.
As students stepped over ice and through piles of snow, they called out, "Elections, not auctions," and, "People in, money out" - though they accidentally chanted "People out, money in" while marching through Kennedy Plaza. On their march, they passed out faux $5 bills featuring advertising icon Mr. Clean advocating for campaign finance reform.
Democracy Matters organized the press conference to drum up support for the legislation, which would create a voluntary system of public financing for all statewide and legislative elections. The act was first introduced five years ago but has struggled to make it past several committees and onto the floor.
"Our goal was first to expose the issue to more legislators," Jonathan Bogard '09, a member of Democracy Matters, told The Herald. "The second goal was to expose the issue to Rhode Islanders." Pointing to the ring of legislators watching the press conference from above the rotunda and citing the television and print reporters, Bogard said he felt the conference was successful on both accounts.
The act would allow candidates, if they chose to take part, to collect a certain number of $5 contributions to show that they have popular support, explained State Senator Rhoda Perry, D-Dist. 3, one of the primary sponsors of the act. They would then receive a grant from the state, which would change the way they ran their campaigns, she said.
Perry said fair elections would increase the number of voters, help to create competitive races and encourage more minorities and women to run for office.
"If we could spend less time raising money and more time doing our job, I think it makes for better officials," said Rhode Island Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis. "I think it makes for a better state."
"I would love nothing more then to see us all begin a debate and start a dialogue," Mollis added.
But "there is a price tag to it," Mollis told The Herald, explaining that with current strains on the state's budget, funding is the biggest hurdle for the legislation. A public financing system would initially cost $7 million a year, according to a press release from Rhode Islanders for Fair Elections.
To the side of the press conference's podium stood a giant ear stuffed with money, which, according to Bogard, "symbolized the fact that right now legislators' ears are being clogged with money, that voices of their constituents are being blocked out by the overwhelming presence of large corporate campaign donations."
Speakers expressed disappointment in Rhode Island politics and some said they felt the act was an opportunity for the state to change its tune.
"As a proud Rhode Islander," Rev. Donald Anderson said, "I continue to be dismayed by the disappointing lack of diversity in the House of Representatives, Senate and general offices."
Phoebe Neel '12, a member of Democracy Matters and the only student to speak at the conference, noted that in addition to coffee milk, Rhode Island is "definitely known for our brushes with corruption." She called the act "an amazing opportunity to show people that Rhode Island actually cares about fair and impartial elections."
Sheila Dormody, the Rhode Island Director of Clean Water Action, said she supported the act because it would cut the influence of oil, gas and chemical lobbyists and force candidates to address issues she thought constituents were more concerned with. "Rhode Islanders really care about the environment," she said.
Bogard said the policy implications were the most important reason for adopting the legislation. Public financing would free candidates from an obligation to act in the interest of large corporate donors, he added.
A similar public financing system already exists in Arizona, Connecticut and Maine.
"I'm here to let you know that it works," said Nancy Smith, a member of Maine's House of Representatives.
Kurt Walters '11, a member of Democracy Matters, said he was hopeful that the act would make it to the floor. "People are catching onto the idea," he said. "If not this year, the momentum is growing enough that it will be soon."
