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�: cur .... ;.. .,. �. t s »<> <... ..::::.... h >........ ...........r....}.1r...y.;.o.g:.......,.:.,_. .__.. ....................... � .. `.. .......»r�,rrrl,..,..........1Yk.4.b„,.....•,.:.............. ..i:•,:::::-'.-.::..:.:.:.::..- ........... ... ; t:zs5sss:=,;;;;:,. '�mwv»+5�:::r.->mmm,...,,�ax "k:��r' ,.,-=,c.,:-:•,.r_..;.-=3z'+`-.3i's�'.'''`Y'•''`.>.::::::,:y r•+ � •..: Our Common Issue Every time citizens exercise their right to influence public policy they are bat- tling the balance of power, and fighting entrenched interests. Whatever the issue -- housing, employee rights, a clean environment, resources for schools and children, access to health care, or any aspect of corporate accountability-- as citizens we are always struggling against the same problem: Those who contribute the most money to candidates, political parties and legislative caucuses have a disproportionate amount of influence over what policies become law. Political and legislative leaders cannot help but consider the sources of this money when they decide which candidates to support or which bills to hear, as well as during other critical junctures in the legislative process. Political par- ties, legislative caucuses and candidates spend so much time raising money that they inevitably spend much of their time with, and therefore listening to, con- tributors. The larger the contributor, the more eagerly they are cultivated and the more loudly they are heard, at the expense of the rest of us. Dollars have become more important than people. Voters are fed up with an electoral system in which their voices are drowned out by large contributors. Those who benefit the most from this system claim that political contributions are simply a form of free speech. But, our "free" speech is limited by our ability to pay. � s ::z :: r ............ .,.. ... ...... .... ,,.,. ,..... _ .Y........ v .......... :. k.. .........:. C'46 - - .... .......... ................ ........... ,