ACEC Supports YES on Proposition 32

This November the voters of California will have an opportunity to make a significant difference in the political landscape of the state by voting YES on Proposition 32. ACEC California is supporting this important proposition and has asked all member firms to contribute to the campaign.

Each member firm should have received a request for donation (formatted to look like an invoice) in August. The suggested amount is $50 per FTE though many firms have chosen to donate more. In order to allow the campaign to make the best use of the funds, they need the donations as soon as possible. There are two options for donations: directly to the “Yes on 32” campaign (which will be a matter of public record), or to “Americans for Job Security” (which will allow the donation to remain anonymous).

The leadership of the ACEC Sierra Chapter has committed to contact every member firm in support of the YES on Proposition 32 campaign. The purpose of the contacts is to do the following: make sure that the donation request has been received, answer any questions that would remove barriers to donation, and encourage a generous donation.
The following information from the “Yes on 32” campaign is an overview of the purpose and goals of Proposition 32.

Removes special interest money from politics: Corporations and unions are spending millions of dollars in Sacramento. We need to cut off campaign contributions so politicians will pay attention to the voters instead of catering to the special interests.
Bans direct corporate and union contributions to candidates: Federal law has had this ban for over 100 years and many other states currently do as well. Proposition 32 favors contributions from individuals and constituents. If it had been in place in 2010, well over $35 million in corporate contributions would have been wiped out.

Prevents corporations from spreading their money across the entire state Legislature and maintaining control regardless of who is elected. According to the LA Times, AT&T has contributed to every single sitting state legislator and they’re not alone. During the 2010 elections, BSNF Rail spent $295,000, covering 75% of legislative races and PG&E spread $480,000 across 72% of races.

Bans contributions from government contractors to elected officials who control contracts awarded to them: The practice of “pay to play,” where contributors are rewarded by contracts occurs at all levels of government. Plain and simple, it’s a bribe and perception of corruption has no place in how tax dollars are spent.

Bans payroll deductions by corporations, unions, and government employers of money to be used for politics: Preserves every employee’s right to contribute to campaigns by means other than payroll deduction (for example, by check or by monthly debit from an account or credit card), but ensures that those contributions are voluntarily authorized by the employee in writing annually.

Assures that all political contributions are voluntary: Individual union members are free to directly support the candidate of their choice or contribute voluntarily to their union’s PAC. Employees of large corporations are free to directly support the candidate of their choice, or contribute voluntarily to the company’s PAC.

Implements reforms evenhandedly, applying each provision to both corporations and unions: These fair and simple reforms reduce the influence of special interests across the board. Read it for yourself.

For more information, please go to: www.YesProp32.com

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Author: Editorial Team