Senator Paul Pinsky introduces Small Donor Empowerment Legislation

Today, the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee held a hearing on SB428, a bill to establish a pilot program for small donor financing for state elections. The program is designed to encourage candidates to voluntarily reject large and corporate contributions by providing limited matching funds for small donations from their constituents. This serves the dual purpose of reducing corporate and mega donor campaign spending and re-engaging the community in the electoral process.

Voting & elections

February 18, 2016

Emily Scarr

Senior Advisor, Maryland PIRG

Today, the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee held a hearing on SB428 (HB1248, Del. Carr), a bill to establish a pilot program for small donor financing for state elections. The program is designed to encourage candidates to voluntarily reject large and corporate contributions by providing limited matching funds for small donations from their constituents. This serves the dual purpose of reducing corporate and mega donor campaign spending and re-engaging the community in the electoral process.

Maryland PIRG is a strong supporter of these programs and has worked in Montgomery County to establish Maryland’s first county level small donor program with the Fair Elections Maryland Coalition. We are now working in Howard County to do the same.

Here is our testimony in support of Senator Paul Pinsky’s SB428.

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Voting & elections

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Emily Scarr

Senior Advisor, Maryland PIRG

Emily is a senior advisor for Maryland PIRG. Recently, Emily helped win small donor public financing in Montgomery and Howard counties, and the Maryland Keep Antibiotics Effective Act to protect public health by restricting the use of antibiotics on Maryland farms. Emily also serves on the Executive Committees of the Maryland Fair Elections Coalition and the Maryland Campaign to Keep Antibiotics Working, and the Steering Committees for the Maryland Pesticide Action Network and Marylanders for Open Government. Emily lives in Baltimore with her husband and dog.