In an effort to keep out of state interests from buying up the governor’s race, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras is asking Democrats to sign a People’s Pledge the disavows SuperPAC donations and other anonymous contributions.
“We shouldn’t allow outside special interests – whether it is deep-pocketed contributors or Wall Street entities – to spend freely through Super PACs or other Independent Expenditures,” Taveras said in a prepared statement. “We can’t allow Wall Street or special interests to use Super PACs as a backdoor to buy their own Rhode Island government. These are often shadowy groups who aren’t subject to public scrutiny. Voters deserve free and fair elections with the greatest transparency as possible.”
His campaign has been working on the pledge for several months, and it is based on two Massachusetts campaigns that took similar pleges: Congressman Ed Markey and Senator Elizabeth Warren. “I think Elizabeth Warren set a terrific example for Democrats by calling for an end to outside spending in campaigns,” Taveras said in a statement.
The idea of using a People’s Pledge in Rhode Island’s 2014 Democratic primary for governor was floated by Sam Howard in this post in September. In it, he writes:
Maybe we’ll be served well by a bruising Democratic primary…
…Or maybe reason and sense will come to our would-be leaders. And instead of behaving like two Cold War commanders; locked in Mutually Assured Destruction, each attempting to win with a devastating first strike; they’ll have a moment of sanity, as they so often have appealed to us to find within ourselves.
Then they might set aside whatever distaste for one another they might have, and meet, and take a People’s Pledge. And they could tell us that unaccountable money has no place in the Rhode Island of today, and should that vile spending find its way into our small state the benefactor will donate a sum to charity.
WPRI broke the story earlier this morning with this great lede: “He hasn’t formally declared his intention to run for governor, but Providence Mayor Angel Taveras is already trying to set the rules for the race.”
“It is one thing to opt out of the voluntary public financing system,” Taveras said in the press release. “It is another thing to allow Super PAC activity on one’s behalf after so many good Democrats worked hard for campaign finance reform in Rhode Island. Super PACs and Independent Expenditures are extraordinarily unpopular with Rhode Islanders and citizens across the country who are concerned about unchecked outside money in campaigns. As Democrats, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard,”
Rhode Island People’s Pledge
Because outside third-party organizations – including but not limited to individuals, corporations, 527 organizations, 501(c:) organizations, SuperPACs, national and state party committees – may air and continue to air and/or direct mail Independent Expenditure advertisements and issue advertisements either supporting or attacking (individually the “Candidate” and collectively the “Candidates”); and
Because these groups function as Independent Expenditure organizations that are outside the direct control of any of the Candidates; and
Because similar agreements have been proven to work in statewide campaigns in Massachusetts; and because the candidates agree that they do not approve of such Independent Expenditure advertisements and/or direct mail and want those advertisements and/or direct mail to immediately cease and desist for the 2014 gubernatorial election cycle; and
Because the candidates recognize that in order to provide the citizens of Rhode Island with an election free of third-party Independent Expenditure advertisements and/or direct mail, they must be willing to include an enforcement mechanism that runs not to the third party organizations but instead to the candidates’ own campaigns:
The candidates on behalf of their respective campaigns hereby agree to the following:
1. In the event that a third-party organization airs any Independent Expenditure broadcast including radio, cable, satellite, online advertising and/or direct mail in support of a named, referenced (funded by title) or otherwise identified candidate, that candidate’s campaign shall, within three (3) days of discovery of the advertisement buy’s cost, duration, and source, pay 50% of the cost of that advertising buy to a charity of the opposing candidate’s choice.
2. In the event that a third-party organization airs any Independent Expenditure broadcast including radio, cable or satellite advertising, online advertising and/or direct mail in opposition to a named, referenced (including by title) or otherwise identified candidate, the opposing candidate’s campaign shall, within three (3) days of discovery of the advertisement’s buy’s cost, duration, and source, pay 50% of the cost of that advertising buy to a charity of the opposed candidate’s choice.
3. In the event that a third-party organization airs any broadcast including radio, cable, or satellite online advertising and/or direct mail that promotes or supports a named, referenced (including by title) or otherwise identified candidate, that candidate’s campaign shall, within three (3) days of discovery of the advertisement buy’s cost, duration, and source, pay 50% of the cost of that advertising buy to a charity of the opposing candidate’s choice.
4. In the event that a third-party organization airs any broadcast including radio, cable or satellite, online advertising and/or direct mail that attacks or opposes a named, referenced (including by title) or otherwise identified candidate, the opposing candidate’s campaign shall, within three (3) days of discovery of the advertisement buy’s cost, duration, and source, pay 50% of the cost of that advertising buy to a charity of the opposed candidate’s choice.
5. The candidates and their campaigns agree that neither they nor anyone acting on their behalf shall coordinate with any third party on any paid advertising and/or direct mail for the duration of the 2014 gubernatorial election cycle. In the event that either candidate or their campaign or anyone acting on their behalf coordinates any paid advertisement and/or direct mail with a third-party organization that candidate’s campaign shall pay 50% of the cost of the advertisement buy and/or direct mail cost to a charity of the opposing Candidate’s choice.
Penalties for Breach
In the event that the undersigned candidate fails to make the charitable donation within the three-day time requirement, then the charitable donation shall double the required amount for an additional five (5) days after which if the charitable contribution is not made, then the charitable donation shall increase an additional amount representing an increase of 50% to the immediately preceding required charitable amount.
The candidates and their campaigns agree to continue to work together to limit the influence of third-party advertisements and to close any loopholes (including coverage of sham ads) that arise in this agreement during the course of the campaign.
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