The Reform Party of Missouri backs a campaign reform ballot initiative. The Reform Party
state committee recently voted to endorse the effort of Missouri Voters for Fair Elections
(MVFE) to get its public campaign funding initiative proposal on the ballot in 2000. The
party withheld judgment on the merits of the proposal itself, but endorsed the idea of
putting the proposal to the voters to expose the public to debate over its merits. Kathleen
Logan, political director of MVFE, addressed the committee and took part in the debate.

The proposal was previously endorsed by campaign-reform crusader Doris (Granny D)
Haddock at a 1999 rally in St. Louis. 89-year-old Granny D is walking across America to
draw attention to campaign reform. She was a featured speaker at the 1999 Reform Party
national convention. Both Democratic Gov. Mel Carnahan and Missouri Republicans have
expressed varying degrees of opposition to the proposal.

The proposal would provide an elective form of public funding of political campaigns, to be
financed by higher franchise taxes on corporations worth more than $2 million. It would
attempt to reduce the influence of special interests by eliminating private campaign
contributions to candidates accepting public funding.

All party candidates and independent candidates would be eligible for public funding. In
order to eliminate public funding of vanity candidates, only candidates who had obtained
$5 contributions from a substantial number of registered voters in the district would qualify
for public funds for the primary. Further funding for the general election is contingent on the
party’s vote in either the primary or the prior general election. Qualifying independent
candidates receive no primary funding but qualify automatically for general election funding.

More information about the proposal is available from MVFE at (314) 531-9630.

Petitions for circulation are available at (314) 531-9630.

Petitions must be filed with the Missouri Secretary of State no later than May 15, 2000.