Council File: 05-1536
Title
FULL PUBLIC FINANCING / ELECTIVE CITY OFFICE CANDIDATES
Subject
Motion - Los Angeles has led the way in many campaign ethics and campaign finance reform efforts over the past two decades, including using public funds to match funds raised by candidates from individuals. Nevertheless, voter turnout in Los Angeles continues a general trend downward and the number of elections producing a competitive general election campaign is also declining.
Full public financing systems, also known as "Clean Money" systems have been discussed recently by the City Ethics Commission. Elected officials, citizens and political observers agree that the level of civic discourse and decision-making has dramatically improved in jurisdictions that have adopted clean money campaign systems. Specifically, the clean money campaign has been a successful model for leveling the playing field and publicly financing elections at the state level in Maine and Arizona.
A campaign finance system that rewards candidates for having the best vision for the city rather than the best fundraising skills would improve citizens' perceptions about and the actual operations of the city.
A system that helps equalize the funding for well-qualified and community-supported candidates would allow candidates to spend more time talking to voters about their concerns and less time talking to campaign contributors, many of whom live outside the areas the candidates seek to represent.
A system that provides well-qualified candidates with adequate funding to mount citywide campaigns will produce competitive elections that will provide citizens in Los Angeles with real choices about the leadership and direction of the city. Furthermore, citizens who would not otherwise think of running for City office because of the amount of money and fundraising that is required by the current system would be able to mount viable campaigns if a clean campaign system were in place.
THEREFORE MOVE that the City Council direct the Chief Legislative Analyst, in consultation with the City Ethics Commission, City Clerk, City Administrative Officer, Mayor Villaraigosa and the California Clean Money Campaign to report back to the City Council within 90 days on the feasibility and potential costs of implementing a Clean Money campaign system in Los Angeles for all elected offices in the City of Los Angeles.
Date Received / Introduced
07/26/2005
Last Change Date
03/25/2009
Expiration Date
05/08/2009
Mover
ERIC GARCETTI
WENDY GREUEL
BILL ROSENDAHL
Second
TONY CARDENAS
File Activities
| Date | Activity | |
|---|---|---|
| 03/25/2009 | Community Impact Statement submitted by Greater Valley Glen Neighborhood Council. |
|
| 05/09/2007 | Rules and Government Committee continued item to/for an undetermined date. |
File History
7-26-05 - This day's Council session
7-26-05 - Ref to Rules and Elections Committee
7-26-05 - File to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk
11-15-05 - Council Action - Rules and Elections Committee report ADOPTED to INSTRUCT the Chief Legislative Analyst, in consultation with the City Ethics Commission, City Clerk, City Administrative Officer, Mayor Villaraigosa and the California Clean Money Campaign, to report back to the Council within 90 days on the feasibility and potential costs of implementing a Clean Money campaign system in Los Angeles for all elected offices in the City of Los Angeles.
11-18-05 - File to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk OK
11-22-05 - File in files
5-9-06 - For ref - Communication from the City Attorney R06-0130, dated May 8, 2006, relative to the permissibility of using public funds for a full public financing system for City elections.
5-9-06 - Ref to Rules and Elections Committee
5-9-06 - File to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk
6-12-06 - For ref - Communication from the Chief Legislative Analyst 06-04-0692, dated June 9, 2006, relative to several actions regarding full public financing program of City elections.
6-12-06 - Ref to Rules and Elections Committee - to Committee Clerk
7-5-06 - Council Action - Rules and Elections Committee report ADOPTED *AS AMENDED to:
1. INSTRUCT the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA), with the assistance of the City Ethics Commission, to develop and submit an information package relative to full public financing of City elections to the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment for distribution to the Neighborhood Councils in order to obtain input.
2. INSTRUCT the CLA, and REQUEST the City Ethics Commission, and with the advice of the City Attorney, to report to the Council with a detailed full public financing program and to report on possible funding sources for such a program other than the General Fund.
7-5-06 - Council Action - Verbal Motion - Weiss Mover 2006 / LaBonge - ADOPTED - HEREBY MOVE that Council RENAME the entire matter of financing City elections as "Full Public Financing."
7-5-06 - Council Action - Verbal Motion - Hahn Mover 2006 / Wesson - ADOPTED - HEREBY MOVE that Council INSTRUCT the Chief Legislative Analyst to complete its report with specifics on a full public financing program, including funding sources for such a program other than the General Fund, including whether or not a voter approved tax may be required, prior to submitting an informational package to the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment for distribution to the Neighborhood Councils in order to obtain input.
7-25-06 - File to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk OK
7-26-06 - File in files
11-3-06 - For ref - Communication from the Chief Legislative Analyst 06-08-1414, dated September 22, 2006, relative to funding a full public financing program.
11-6-06 - Ref to Rules and Elections Committee
11-6-06 - File to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk
12-15-06 - For ref - Communication from the City Ethics Commission, dated December 14, 2006, relative to a comprehensive proposal to create a program in which eligible candidates for elective City offices could receive full public financing for their campaigns.
12-18-06 - Ref to Rules Elections and Budget and Finance Committees - to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk
4-13-07 - For ref - Communication from Councilmember Gruel, dated April 11, 2007, relative to the Ethics Commission's full public financing proposal.
4-18-07 - Ref to Rules and Elections and Budget and Finance Committees - to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk
5-8-07 - For ref - Communication from the Chief Legislative Analyst, dated May 8, 2007, relative to an information package concerning a full public financing guide for Neighborhood Councils for City elections.
5-8-07 - Ref to Rules and Elections Committee - to Committee Clerk
7-26-05 - Ref to Rules and Elections Committee
7-26-05 - File to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk
11-15-05 - Council Action - Rules and Elections Committee report ADOPTED to INSTRUCT the Chief Legislative Analyst, in consultation with the City Ethics Commission, City Clerk, City Administrative Officer, Mayor Villaraigosa and the California Clean Money Campaign, to report back to the Council within 90 days on the feasibility and potential costs of implementing a Clean Money campaign system in Los Angeles for all elected offices in the City of Los Angeles.
11-18-05 - File to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk OK
11-22-05 - File in files
5-9-06 - For ref - Communication from the City Attorney R06-0130, dated May 8, 2006, relative to the permissibility of using public funds for a full public financing system for City elections.
5-9-06 - Ref to Rules and Elections Committee
5-9-06 - File to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk
6-12-06 - For ref - Communication from the Chief Legislative Analyst 06-04-0692, dated June 9, 2006, relative to several actions regarding full public financing program of City elections.
6-12-06 - Ref to Rules and Elections Committee - to Committee Clerk
7-5-06 - Council Action - Rules and Elections Committee report ADOPTED *AS AMENDED to:
1. INSTRUCT the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA), with the assistance of the City Ethics Commission, to develop and submit an information package relative to full public financing of City elections to the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment for distribution to the Neighborhood Councils in order to obtain input.
2. INSTRUCT the CLA, and REQUEST the City Ethics Commission, and with the advice of the City Attorney, to report to the Council with a detailed full public financing program and to report on possible funding sources for such a program other than the General Fund.
7-5-06 - Council Action - Verbal Motion - Weiss Mover 2006 / LaBonge - ADOPTED - HEREBY MOVE that Council RENAME the entire matter of financing City elections as "Full Public Financing."
7-5-06 - Council Action - Verbal Motion - Hahn Mover 2006 / Wesson - ADOPTED - HEREBY MOVE that Council INSTRUCT the Chief Legislative Analyst to complete its report with specifics on a full public financing program, including funding sources for such a program other than the General Fund, including whether or not a voter approved tax may be required, prior to submitting an informational package to the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment for distribution to the Neighborhood Councils in order to obtain input.
7-25-06 - File to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk OK
7-26-06 - File in files
11-3-06 - For ref - Communication from the Chief Legislative Analyst 06-08-1414, dated September 22, 2006, relative to funding a full public financing program.
11-6-06 - Ref to Rules and Elections Committee
11-6-06 - File to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk
12-15-06 - For ref - Communication from the City Ethics Commission, dated December 14, 2006, relative to a comprehensive proposal to create a program in which eligible candidates for elective City offices could receive full public financing for their campaigns.
12-18-06 - Ref to Rules Elections and Budget and Finance Committees - to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk
4-13-07 - For ref - Communication from Councilmember Gruel, dated April 11, 2007, relative to the Ethics Commission's full public financing proposal.
4-18-07 - Ref to Rules and Elections and Budget and Finance Committees - to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk
5-8-07 - For ref - Communication from the Chief Legislative Analyst, dated May 8, 2007, relative to an information package concerning a full public financing guide for Neighborhood Councils for City elections.
5-8-07 - Ref to Rules and Elections Committee - to Committee Clerk
Online Docs
| Title | Date |
|---|
| Community Impact Statement from Greater Valley Glen Neighborhood Council | 03/25/2009 |
| Community Impact Statement | 03/25/2009 |
| Report from Chief Legislative Analyst | 05/08/2007 |
| Communication from Councilmember Greuel | 04/11/2007 |
| Report from Ethics Commission | 12/14/2006 |
| Report from Chief Legislative Analyst | 09/22/2006 |
| Council Action | 07/05/2006 |
| Report from Chief Legislative Analyst | 06/09/2006 |
| Report from City Attorney | 05/08/2006 |
| Council Action | 11/15/2005 |
| Motion | 07/26/2005 |
Council Vote Information (4 Votes)
|
Council Vote Information (4 Votes) | |
| Meeting Date: | 07/05/2006 |
| Meeting Type: | Regular |
| Vote Given: | (12 - 1 - 2) |
| Member Name | CD | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| TONY CARDENAS | 6 | YES |
| ERIC GARCETTI | 13 | NO |
| WENDY GREUEL | 2 | YES |
| JANICE HAHN | 15 | YES |
| JOSE HUIZAR | 14 | YES |
| TOM LABONGE | 4 | YES |
| ALEX PADILLA | 7 | YES |
| BERNARD C PARKS | 8 | YES |
| JAN PERRY | 9 | YES |
| ED REYES | 1 | ABSENT |
| BILL ROSENDAHL | 11 | YES |
| GREIG SMITH | 12 | ABSENT |
| JACK WEISS | 5 | YES |
| HERB WESSON | 10 | YES |
| DENNIS ZINE | 3 | YES |