N.C. For The People Action

Time and time again we see it’s far too easy for big monied special interests to crowd out everyday people in favor of backroom deals.  This case reminds us that North Carolina needs to reinstate our tradition of supporting small-donors with public financing and fighting the influence of wealthy special interests.

Our public servants, like Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey, shouldn’t have to operate in a system where there is pressure to balance the desire of big money vs. public interest.

Far too often, North Carolinians feel that their voices are not heard, that government fails to represent their concerns or meet their needs.  Voters want to believe in their democracy again.  That’s why we have to enact common-sense reforms for our democracy now.   

North Carolina’s successful experiment in small donor public financing, before its demise in 2013, was a model program for how to keep our public officials from having to feel pressure from big monied interests.   

To make sure everyone’s voice is heard, it’s time to return to small-donor public financing. Not only must we reinstate public campaign financing for the state insurance commissioner elections, but we must also expand that to all Council of State offices and reinstate public campaign financing for statewide judicial elections.  That way we can make North Carolina a democracy that is truly of, by and for the people.

Melissa Price Kromm, Director of North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections