The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB276. This legislation would expand transparency in campaign contributions and expenditures. By requiring the naming of top donors to paid advertisements in all forms of media, the bill discourages the temptation to “buy” influence and leads to greater accountability to the electorate.

My name is Jessica Mott, from Arlington VA. I am a member of the executive committees of the grassroots group We of Action (WofA). I support HB 276, which would strengthen the disclosure of independent expenditures on elections. As an active and responsible citizen, it is important for me to be able to assess information and views about candidate and referenda campaigns. This assessment requires knowing the sources and donors who sponsor electoral advertisements, including when these advertisements are funded independently of campaign committees. I know that, in common with other voters, I don’t like being poorly informed or manipulated. HB 276 will increase voter access to information on advertisements funded by independent expenditure by requiring disclosure of the key funders within the advertisement themselves. This greater disclosure should help discourage the influence of dark money in Virginia’s elections. This disclosure does not undermine freedom of speech. The Supreme Court 2010 Citizen’s United ruling stated that “transparency enables the electorate to make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages”. I urge that you all support this bill.

Public financing of elections: Marcus Simon (HB 1045) BigMoneyOutVA supports this bill which establishes a tried and true mechanism to amplify the voices of our citizens in our elections. Public financing of elections programs have been effective in reducing the influence of large corporate and wealthy donors while encouraging candidates from diverse backgrounds to run for public office. The provisions of this bill (small donor progressive match) mirrors some of the successful programs implemented around the country: 14 states and in nearly 40 local jurisdictions. It also-and importantly, uses a creative mechanism for funding the program, rather than using tax-payer dollars, it is financed through an optional check off through the Virginia tax filing. It is a voluntary program of small donor public financing for state elections which and creates a unique incentive for candidates to engage with many supporters. Rather than spending time courting lobbyists, candidates are encouraged to actually talk to voters. …. Something that is supposed to happen in election campaigning. We hope that you pass this bill.

My names is Nancy Morgan, member of BigMoneyOutVA, a non-partisan group advocating for campaign finance reform. We support this bill which was crafted drawing on the many provisions coming out of the 2021 bipartisan, bicarmeral meetings of the Sub-Committee on Campaign Finance. It also draws on national best practices incorporated into similar legislation adopted and passed in states like Arizona, Alaska, and Rhode Island. The objective of the bill is to protect legislators & candidates from obscure attack ads which have proliferated since the Supreme Court’s ruling on Citizens United. Many of your colleagues from this body have been subject to similar attacks, especially before primaries. Just to remind you, after Citizens United was passed in 2010, the justices on the Supreme Court voted 8-1 in favor of full disclosure. Justice Scalia was quoted that “requiring people to stand up in public for their political acts fosters public fosters civic courage, without which democracy is doomed”. You might hear today from dark money groups that their speech needs to be private, referencing the 1958 NAACP-Alabama case safeguarding that group’s right of association and privacy in the context of the violence of the Civil Rights Era.. However, Supreme Court justices agreed that total disclosure is important for the public interest. We hope that you as public servants agree. Thanks to Del Helmer for introducing this bill which is designed to protect legislators and enhance disclosure for voters so we know who is trying to influence our elections. It protects legislators when they are running for office and among voters it builds trust in government. It’s a win-win for voters and legislators. We hope that you pass this bill.