The Norman League of Women Voters recently sponsored a public discussion titled, “Whose Legislation: Special Interests or the Public?”

The presenters were Mary Francis, retired educator and board member of the LWV Norman, Lynn Howell, chair of Common Cause of Oklahoma, and Political Science Professor John Woods, Rose State College.

Francis discussed the Just 6 Dollars national campaign, sponsored by Americans for Campaign Reform and endorsed by the National League of Women Voters. This is a campaign for voluntary public financing of federal elections. Under such a program Congress would have to spend only $6 per citizen per year to publicly fund each and every election for the House, the Senate and the White House. That is a real bargain considering that “pork barrel” projects alone cost every American more than $200 last year.

With public funding, wealthy special interests and the lobbyists they hire would no longer have a commanding influence over our politics and government. Equally important, candidates could spend their time communicating with voters instead of fundraising. Once elected, our leaders would be free to focus on our nation’s challenges rather than having to worry about financing their next campaign. More of our most able leaders could afford to run for federal office if the ability to finance a campaign weren’t such a daunting obstacle.

Public finance bills introduced in 2007

Fair Elections Now Act, S 1285, sponsors are Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Arlen Specter, R-Penn.

Presidential Funding Act, HR 776, sponsors are Rep. Martin Meehan, D-Mass., and Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn.

Presidential Funding Act, S 436, sponsors Senators Russell Feingold, D-Wis., and Barack Obama, D-Ill. Clean Money, Clean Elections Act, HR 1614, sponsors Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., and Rep. Todd Platts, R-Penn.

Howell explained some Oklahoma public funding legislation that is being introduced by Sen. Kenneth Corn this session. 1) Senate Bill 1974 would create the Oklahoma Judicial Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Limitation Act. This act would establish voluntary limits on contributions to, and expenditures by, candidates for district and associate district judges. A $4 fee for filing of certain civil lawsuits would provide funding. Voluntary donations and donations from corporations, other businesses, labor unions, attorneys and professional associations also could be made to the fund. 2) Senate Bill 2045 creates the Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Limitation Act and Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Limitation Act. The act establishes voluntary limits on contributions to, and expenditures by, candidates for the office of corporation commissioner and insurance commissioner. For more details, read the text of these senate bills at: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/Webapplication1/webform1.aspx,

Howell believes that public finance is needed for some state offices in Oklahoma because it would limit the influence of private money in the political process. He said that public finance for district judges is the most logical place to start because judges, more than other public figures, need to be free from owing favors when they make decisions affecting peoples’ lives.

Wood’s presentation focused on his recent research: Facts About Lobbying in Oklahoma.

Fact 1. There were approximately 700 lobbyist principals (employers) in Oklahoma in 2007.

Fact 2 The 700 lobbyist principals have a lopsided relationship with legislators compared to their relationship with average citizens or non-business groups. Most citizens and non-business groups cannot afford to hire a lobbyist, whose typical annual income in Oklahoma is $86,525, with almost 40 percent of lobbyists making $100,000 or more. In 2007 business lobbyists, who represent large industries such as health care, petroleum, transportation, banking, Realtors and insurance, comprised more than 50 percent of all lobbyists, up from 29 percent in 2004. Other groups such as labor, the environment, churches, senior services, public employees, minorities or average citizens have almost no lobbyists. The only non-business with a large number of lobbyists is education.

Fact 3 Thirty-nine of Oklahoma lobbyists are former state legislators (2005 figure). Oklahoma ranks among the top three states to have the most former legislators as lobbyists. In 2007 there were 19 states requiring a wait of one year before legislators could become lobbyists; six states required a two-year waiting period. Oklahoma legislators, however, can register as a lobbyist the day after leaving office.