People's Pledge (United States)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The People's Pledge is a formal campaign finance agreement between all candidates and their campaigns in a given election. It aims to reduce non-party group spending in an election by limiting expenditures to candidates’ campaigns and party committees.[1] The Pledge requires candidates to pay a penalty if outside spending groups spend on behalf of their campaign. Outside spending is defined as any independent expenditure by a non-party group to benefit a candidate.

The People's Pledge was developed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Scott Brown during the 2012 U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts. The candidates publicly called on outside groups to stop spending in support of either candidate. They then agreed to pay a penalty equal to half the amount of any outside expenditure from their campaign account to a charity of the opponent's choice.[2]

In the 2012 U.S Senate election in Massachusetts, the Pledge significantly reduced outside spending.[3] People's Pledges have been implemented in 2014 primary elections and proposed in numerous federal races. Nonprofits Common Cause and Public Citizen have launched a campaign to promote the People's Pledge in the 2014 election cycle.[4]

In addition to the 2012 U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts, a People's Pledge was implemented in the democratic primary for the 2013 U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts[5] and the democratic primary for the 2014 gubernatorial election in Rhode Island.[6] The Pledge has been proposed by at least one candidate in the 2012 U.S. Senate election in Maine,[7] the 2013 mayoral election in Los Angeles[8] and the 2014 U.S. Senate elections in Kentucky,[9] New Hampshire,[10] and Alaska.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ http://columbialawreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Sitaraman-Ganesh.pdf[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Eggen, Dan (2012-01-23). "Scott Brown, Elizabeth Warren pledge to curb outside campaign spending". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  3. ^ "Group's study backs pact that limited outside political spending - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  4. ^ "Patio Furniture Cushions Bistro Patio Set Outdoor Patio String Lights". Peoplespledge2014.org. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  5. ^ "Markey, Lynch Sign Primary Race 'People's Pledge'". WBUR News. Wbur.org. 2013-02-13. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  6. ^ Morgan, Thomas J. "3 Democratic candidates for R.I. governor sign 'People's Pledge' deal on outside money". Providence Journal. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  7. ^ "Maine Senate candidate challenges opponents to sign 'People's Pledge' style agreement to curb super PACs". 14 June 2012.
  8. ^ "New twist in L.A. Mayor's race: The 'People's Pledge'". 17 January 2013.
  9. ^ http://www.kentucky.com/2014/05/28/3263685/group-challenges-grimes-and-mcconnell.html?sp=/99/164/329/[bare URL]
  10. ^ James Pindell (2014-04-08). "Following Shaheen, Shea-Porter asks her GOP opponents to take 'People's Pledge'". Wmur.com. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  11. ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/10/the-peoples-pledge-is-back-in-alaska-wait-what-the-heck-is-that/
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