Special Interests Have Too Much Power In SacramentoThe Result: failed government and a state in crisis

• Multi-billion dollar budget deficits year after year — LAO estimates deficits exceeding $20 billion each year through 2015

• 12% unemployment — the 2nd highest in the country

• Promises made that we can’t afford — half a trillion dollars in unfunded government employee pensions

• Schools failing to provide basic education — more than half of all California schools are labeled as failing

• Higher taxes — the highest general sales tax and 4th highest income tax in the country

THE PROBLEM

California’s Dysfunctional Government — a broken system that encourages special interests to spend millions of dollars influencing politicians.

• $715 million was contributed to state-level candidates and campaigns during the 2010 election cycle(Source: National Institute for Money in State Politics)

• 79% of campaign funds are raised outside state lawmakers’ districts(Source: non-partisan MAPLight.org)

• Nearly 40% of all bills introduced in the legislature are sponsored by special interest lobbyists, and these bills are more than twice as likely to become law(San Jose Mercury News, 7/10/10)

• More than $1 billion was spent on political activities by 15 special interest organizations alone in a ten-year period(FPPC report)

THE PROBLEM

Workers Are Unfairly Forced To Contribute To Politicians

By using payroll deduction, which is inherently coercive, corporations and unions are able to extract large sums of money from employees and members. Special interests then use the money to control Sacramento politicians by spending millions of dollars on political causes and campaigns.

This system treats public and private workers unfairly – taking their hard-earned money and giving it to politicians through political contributions.

THE PROBLEM

The Stop Special Interest Money Now Act

A simple, fair and balanced solution that addresses the whole problem of special interests controlling government.

In short, it returns power back to the people by limiting both corporate and union political spending.

THE SOLUTION

The Stop Special Interest Money Now Act

Four Key Components:

1. Bans both corporate and labor union contributions to candidates;

2. Prohibits government contractors from contributing money to government officials who award them contracts;

3. Prohibits corporations and labor unions from collectingpolitical funds from employees and union members using the inherently coercive means of payroll deduction; and

4. Makes all employee political contributions by any other means strictly voluntary, requiring annual written consent.

THE SOLUTION

Strong Support for Cutting off Special Interest Money

Corporations and unions are spending millions of dollars to get their way in Sacramento; we need to cut off campaign contributions so politicians will pay attention to the voters instead of catering to special interests.

Agree Disagree Strongly Agree

81 17 65

POLLING

Voters Support a Proposition Banning Special Interest Money and Stopping Automatic Paycheck Deductions

Banning all corporate and labor union campaign contributions to candidates and political parties, and prohibiting government employers from deducting from employees’ paychecks any amount used for political purposes.

Yes No Definitely Yes

65 31 45

POLLING

Voters Blame Corporations and Unions Equally

If you could do only one of the following two, what would you do?

POLLING

Limit the influence of big corporations Limit the influence of public employee unions

48 45

Treat All Special Interests the Same

This is a simple, straightforward proposal to clean up politics that treats everybody the same: neither labor unions nor corporations can make campaign contributions anymore.

Agree Disagree Strongly Agree

67 28 41

POLLING

Voters Respond Positively to Voluntary Contributions and Prohibiting Paycheck Deductions for Politics

Would you favor or oppose making all political contributions by government employees voluntary, and prohibiting government employers from deducting from employees’ paycheck any amount used for political purposes?

Favor Oppose Strongly Favor

66 29 50

POLLING

Strong Support for Requiring Written Consent

Would you favor or would you oppose requiring that unions, corporations and government employers get the explicit written consent of employees to use any money withheld from employees’ salary for political purposes?

Favor Oppose Strongly Favor

69 28 59

POLLING

Voters Value Fairness and Choice Over Strong Unions

Between these two, who do you agree with more?

POLLING

We need strong unions to protect workers All political contributions should be voluntary

29 68

Projected Total Expenditures

TIMELINE & BUDGETJUNE 2012 PRIMARY

ELECTION

Phase Amount StatusResearch Phase (2010-Q1 2011) $150,000 CompletedQualification (4/1/11-6/15/11) $2.5 million $250,000 COHCampaign (2012) $20 million Estimate Only

Pledges $700,000

Thank You for Your Support

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE

Make Checks Payable To:

Californians Against Special Interests455 Capitol Mall, Suite 600Sacramento, CA 95814

Californians Against Special Interests is a California state political action committee. Contributions are not tax deductible.