Voters reject measure to fund political campaigns
June 9, 2010 Proposition 15, defeated Tuesday, would have set up a voluntary
pilot program for candidates running for secretary of state.
In doing so, the measure would have repealed a 26-year-old ban
on public funding of political campaigns in California.
Had Proposition 15 passed, candidates running for secretary of
state could have received at least $2.3 million in public funds for
the primary and general elections. Additional matching funds would
have been available if outside interest groups or competitors spent
more money.
Supporters argued such a system would curtail the influence of
special interests in elections. Critics characterized the measure
as welfare for politicians.
