Political Reform: Media Appearances and Press Releases

Mark Paul on KQED - San Francisco | 'Constitutional Convention'

Communications — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:07:00 -0400

New America in the News:

As the state legislature remains mired in budget negotiations, some frustrated citizens are calling for a radical reform. They want a state convention to revise California's constitution, arguing that rewriting the constitution could save the state from future gridlocks and usher in needed reforms.

Host: Dave Ivers

Guests:

Jim Wunderman, president and CEO of Bay Area Council

Joel Fox, president of Small Business Action Committee
Mark Paul, senior scholar at New America Foundation

LINK to audio

Joe Mathews in the Los Angeles Times | 'In the Political Battleground of Colorado, a Labor-Business Fight Is Raging'

Communications — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:29:00 -0400

New America in the News:
"It's fair to say that Colorado will be the center of ballot initiative world in November," said Joe Mathews, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan New America Foundation, which follows voter initiatives. "The business-labor [ones] likely will be the biggest, most bitter and hard-fought ballot fight in the country." LINK

Steven Hill in the Washington Examiner | 'Use of Public Finance Dollars Raises Concerns'

Communications — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:17:00 -0400

New America in the News:

...Advocates of public campaign financing were worried the money would not be there for candidates in future years.

“You are setting a precedent of making this a slush fund to fund your favorite projects,” said Steven Hill, director of Political Reform at the nonprofit New America Foundation... LINK

Steven Hill on KCBS | 'SF May Use Election Funds to Balance Budget'

Communications — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:14:00 -0400

New America in the News:
...”There is a red line around that fund. There is a locked box; you may not go into it, that’s the principal here,” said Steven Hill of the New America Foundation... LINK for audio

Gautam Dutta in the Long Beach Press-Telegram | 'Long Beach City Clerk Warns Council of Voter Fatigue'

Communications — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:11:00 -0400

New America in the News:

...Gautam Dutta, deputy director of the Political Reform Program for the non-profit New America Foundation, who was invited by Herrera to speak at the committee meeting, told the council that voter turnout increased 168 percent in San Francisco after initiating instant runoff voting.

Dutta said the voting system helps avoid the Ralph Nader or Ross Perot effect, when voters may support a third-party candidate, but don't vote for the candidate because that person is unlikely to win. Similarly, voters who support a long-shot candidate wouldn't be at risk of taking votes away from another acceptable candidate, thus placing the person they least support in office, he said.

"You know, rest assured that if that person doesn't make it and gets knocked out, your vote will automatically go to your second choice. ... That I think would make voters feel a lot more at ease about the voting process," Dutta said... LINK

Reihan Salam in Newsweek | 'Expertinent: Building a 'Grand New Party''

Communications — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:27:00 -0400

New America in the News:

...Experts expect the GOP to lose between four and seven seats in the Senate and 10 and 20 seats in the House--giving the Democrats their largest majorities in a generation. And John McCain hasn't led Barack Obama in a single poll since May 3.

Enter Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam. Named by David Brooks of the New York Times as "two of the most promising" of "an emerging "group of young and unpredictable rightward-leaning writers," they're editors at the Atlantic Monthly and co-authors of "Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream," released earlier this week....

Q: People lay blame at the feet of President Bush. Obviously the historical backdrop has changed over time, but how much do the mistakes of the past eight years contribute to the current collapse of the GOP?

SALAM: There have been plenty of other books that have offered a litany of what went wrong with the Bush Administration. We don't disagree. But it's certainly true that 2000 presented Republicans with a rare opportunity. When you look at the rhetorical shifts that George W. Bush made in his campaign, it seemed like the public and certainly the conservative public was receptive to a broad shift in political orientation toward a domestic, reformist agenda. When you look at a lot of the policies that John McCain was pointing to, you saw a willingness to break with some conservative orthodoxy. But no one really seized that mantle, in part because 9-11 presented such an attractive opportunity to go back to the kind of rock-ribbed conservative fundamentals of the Reagan era--namely, national security, this time under the guise of terrorism rather than communism. There was an ability to draw on the classic tropes that this generation of conservative politicians was very familiar with. But I think there could've large-scale Republican realignment had they married that national-security politics to more meat on the bone domestically...LINK to the Newsweek: Stumper Q&A session

Steven Hill in the Washington Times | 'Cuts Urged in Political Ambassadorships'

Communications — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:25:00 -0400

New America in the News:

The American Academy of Diplomacy sent letters to the two presumptive presidential candidates last week, proposing several criteria for choosing non-career ambassadors, including foreign affairs experience, communication and persuasion skills, and leadership abilities...

..."It might be perfectly fine in today's climate, where you can raise more money over the Internet than ever before," to make a pledge such as the one the academy has called for, said Steven Hill, director of the Political Reform Program of the New America Foundation.

"With Barack Obama raising so much money over the Internet, it might be easier for him to agree to something like this, because perhaps he's not as dependent on large donors who want that kind of quid pro quo," Mr. Hill said... LINK

Top L.A. Labor Group Embraces Election Reform

Communications — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:29:00 -0400

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO has endorsed a critical reform for Los Angeles elections: Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). The County Federation, the second largest chartered Labor Council of AFL-CIO in the country, represents over 350 unions and over 800,000 workers. Maria Elena Durazo, the County Federation’s Executive Secretary-Treasurer, noted that IRV would benefit voters, working families and taxpayers alike: “By saving millions of taxpayer dollars and relieving voter fatigue, IRV will benefit all of Los Angeles. We strongly urge the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Villaraigosa to put IRV on the… more

Steven Hill in the Sacramento Bee | 'Parties Split Over Teen Voting Bill'

Communications — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:44:00 -0400

New America in the News:

...Steven Hill of the nonpartisan New America Foundation said democracy is not well served by a status quo in which 7 million Californians are eligible to vote but don't bother to register.

Among the youngest adults, ages 18 to 24, slightly more than half have filed voter applications, the PPIC survey found.

"To get people to vote, the first thing is to get them on the rolls," Hill said. "If they're not on the rolls, they can't vote – end of story..." LINK

California State Controller John Chiang Endorses LA Election Reform

Communications — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 05:16:00 -0400

Los Angeles, CA -- California State Controller John Chiang has endorsed a critical election reform for Los Angeles: Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). Chiang, California's top fiscal officer and highest ranking Asian American elected official, announced his support at a City Hall panel discussion held today at Los Angeles City Hall's Bradley Tower.

Controller Chiang noted that IRV will help boost voter turnout by reducing voter fatigue: "I think part of the fatigue with the American electoral system is with the runoffs -- with the endless electoral cycles where people do not get time to govern and people don't get time to… more

New America Foundation in Ventura County Star | 'Decline-to-State Voters Need to Know They Have Options'

Communications — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:08:00 -0400

New America in the News:
...Some partisans scoff at the independent voters, saying that they "have no opinion or convictions." But, independent voters very often have a mix of beliefs and principles that don't completely fit into one party's mold. A study done at the New America Foundation shows that the independent voter is generally younger, male, college-educated, a fiscal conservative (willing to accept fewer government services in exchange for paying less in taxes), pro-choice, an environmentalist, pro-securing the border, and growing in numbers of minorities. Sounds like a pretty concerned, informed bloc of voters...LINK

Gautam Dutta on KPPC Radio | 'Instant Runoff' Proposal Would Do Away With Some Runoff Elections in LA

Communications — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:59:00 -0400

New America in the News:
(KPPC)--The idea of "instant runoff" voting appears to be gaining steam in Los Angeles. The L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce, labor unions and the League of Women Voters want change: a proposal would eliminate runoff elections in non-partisan races in several categories. KPCC's Frank Stoltze reports.

Frank Stoltze: In their case for instant runoff voting, advocates point to last year's runoff election between two candidates for the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees.

Gautam Dutta: Only six percent showed up to vote. In fact, in some precincts, nobody showed up to vote. That election cost five million dollars, and that's a cost of $40 per voter... LINK to Interview

Gautam Dutta on KPCC | ''Instant Runoff' Proposal Would Do Away With Some Runoff Elections in LA'

Communications — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:33:00 -0400

New America in the News:

The idea of "instant runoff" voting appears to be gaining steam in Los Angeles. The L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce, labor unions and the League of Women Voters want change: a proposal would eliminate runoff elections in non-partisan races in several categories. KPCC's Frank Stoltze reports...

Gautam Dutta: Only six percent showed up to vote. In fact, in some precincts, nobody showed up to vote. That election cost five million dollars, and that's a cost of $40 per voter... LINK for audio and transcript

L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce Endorses Key Election Reform

Communications — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:55:00 -0400

Contact: Mr. Gautam Dutta, Esq. (213.480.0994; dutta@newamerica.net)

Los Angeles CA -- The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce has endorsed a critical election reform: Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles, and key labor unions like UNITE HERE have also endorsed IRV.

"Instant Runoff Voting will create more competitive races, increase voter participation and eliminate costly runoff elections," said Gary Toebben, President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. "The L.A. Area Chamber strongly urges the City Council and Mayor Villaraigosa to put IRV on the ballot this… more

Steven Hill in Newsday | Will Candidates Falter Without Independents?

Communications — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:06:00 -0500

New America in the News:
Without independents, will McCain, Obama falter? (Newsday)
"Certainly, closed primaries are better for those who have a stronger following among party faithful," said Steven Hill, the director of the political reform program for the nonpartisan New America Foundation.

Steven Hill in Financial Times on California Political Reform

Communications — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 11:08:00 -0500

New America in the News:

Republican candidates are trailing Hillary Clinton in the presidential polls but the revival of a campaign to change the way California allocates its 55 electoral college votes has raised the party's hopes for next year's election.

The California Counts campaign, which has several prominent Republican backers, wants to replace the "winner-takes-all" system for electoral vote allocation with one based on the number of congressional districts won by each candidate.

"It would essentially give away 22 electoral college votes that a Democrat candidate could count on [in California]," said Steven Hill, director of the political reform programme for the New America Foundation, a non-partisan think-tank.

If the proposal is ratified, the number of electoral votes picked up by the Republican candidate could be more than the combined electoral votes of Nevada, Utah and New Mexico. ...

For the complete article, please follow this link.

NPR Interview with Mark Schmitt at Bloggers' Convention

Communications — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 19:00:00 -0400

New America in the News:

Senior Fellow Mark Schmitt talks with National Public Radio about his blogging on TPMCafe.com, while attending the YearlyKos Convention in Chicago:

LYDEN: And you -- looking to have an impact here on the campaign?

Mr. SCHMITT: I'm not looking to have too much of an impact on the campaign. I'm more interested in how different issues are playing out in the campaign. So I, you know, if I'll write about tax policy, I'll comment on how I think some of the different candidates are handling an issue like that or an issue like political reform, CAFE finance reform, which I was on a panel about today, rather than trying to have an impact, you know, in terms of supporting one candidate or the other.

LYDEN: Well, let me ask you. This is billed as the blogging convention that is the highest profile so far for political candidates. Do you feel like you're satisfied with getting access to them, with getting them to come and deal with you as the -- dare I say this -- media of the future?

Mr. SCHMITT: One could hardly be dissatisfied...

For the complete story, visit the NPR web site.

Gautam Dutta Named Deputy Director of Political Reform Program

Communications — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 08:06:00 -0400

(SACRAMENTO, CA, August 1, 2007) — The New America Foundation is pleased to announce the hiring of Gautam Dutta as Deputy Director for the Political Reform Program. Mr. Dutta, a passionate proponent of political reform, will continue his advocacy of New America's signature reforms such as instant runoff voting, proportional voting and redistricting reform."As an attorney, civic leader, and Los Angeles Commissioner, Gautam has the right combination of skills, experience, leadership and passion for political reform that we were looking for in our Deputy Director," says Program Director Steven Hill. “We are thrilled to have him on… more

Los Angeles Times Quotes Lynne Serpe on Instant Runoff Voting

Communications — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:51:00 -0400

New America in the News:

This Wednesday's [Los Angeles City Council's Rules and Elections Committee] meeting may be different because the committee is going to discuss instant runoff voting. If you're tired of the endless electioneering in the city, this is a good thing...

As attentive readers may recall, this column believes that perpetually low turnout in city elections is due, in part, to the city's insistence on holding elections in March of odd-numbered years. Any wonder that turnout in this year's election was just 11% and even lower during the May runoffs?

That means city elections follow directly on the heels of far sexier general elections in November of even-numbered years. The result: Election season feels like hockey season. It never ends...

The New America Foundation, which is pushing the proposal in cities across the country, says Los Angeles could save money with instant runoffs, having spent $30.9 million to administer separate runoff elections since 1993.

That's not to mention all the fundraising and campaign promises — not all well thought out — that accompany runoffs.

More important, the foundation says that candidates vying to be someone's second or third choice would stick to the issues more closely — and sometimes even build coalitions around issues.

"Local elections are some of the most important in terms of having an impact on your daily life," said Lynne Serpe, deputy director of the foundation's political reform program. "I think that elections have become so negative and nasty that people tune out and turn off..."

For the complete article, please visit the Los Angeles Times website.

New Study Highlights Problems with Runoff Elections in Los Angeles

Communications — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:47:00 -0400

LOS ANGELES, CA – As Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa proposes decreasing the city of Los Angeles’ budget deficit, a new study suggests another way to save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars: eliminate the May runoff election and instead use instant runoff voting to elect majority winners in a single election.

Los Angeles taxpayers are about to spend an estimated five million dollars for a May 15 runoff election in which fewer than 10… more