A sneak attack on Arizona’s Clean Elections law—SCR 1013— would not just destroy the state’s banner public financing program for candidates, but also would allow special interests unprecedented power to influence elections in the state, warns the Arizona Clean Elections Institute.
The "strike all" bill awaits action by the House Rules committee before it can go to the floor for a vote; after that, it could proceed to the Senate floor.
To avoid public debate, opponents of Clean Elections waited until it was too late to introduce any new bills. Instead, they took a bill that had already had a hearing—dealing with the retirement of judges—struck out all of its contents, and stuck in language gutting the Clean Elections program. SCR 1013 also increases campaign contribution limits; permits corporations, for the first time in the state’s history, to give cash directly to political candidates; and other weakening changes.
The sponsor of this "strike all" amendment, Rep. Rick Murphy (R), has a complaint pending before the Clean Elections Commission for not providing details have how he spent his Clean Elections funds.
Despite the sneak attack of SCR 1013, Clean Elections continues to be popular among potential candidates. For the 2006 election cycle, 63 percent of candidates have announced they will run using the system, which more candidates likely to report their intentions over the next few months.
Advocates for Clean Elections are also rallying. Doris "Granny D" Haddock, the 96-year-old woman who walked across the United States in support of campaign finance reform was in Phoenix in late April to oppose the repeal of Arizona's Clean Elections system. She announced she would be walking through the districts of those running for reelection this year who support the repeal of the reform program. She says she hopes that by walking through their districts she will create "a useful conversation between voters and the anti-reform incumbents."