Issue Position: Follow the Money: Make It Easy for You to Track Money in Politics

Issue Position

Current Secretary of State Debra Bowen was known as a technology leader when she was a State Senator. But as just another politician using the Secretary of State post as a failed springboard for higher office, she has presided over an election results website that crashes repeatedly on election nights and a campaign finance website that has been stuck in a "closed data" mindset. Until recently, the Secretary of State actually charged hundreds of dollars for a simple copy of the public campaign finance and lobbying databases.

Pete's Plan:

- As recommended by the former head of the California Fair Political Practices Commission, propose a ban on all fundraising activities by state legislators and statewide officeholders while the legislature in is session.

- Exempt challengers from this ban to help level the playing field that's now stacked so heavily in favor of incumbents.

- Create new computer applications to release as much campaign data as legally possible for the public to review…instantly and free of charge.

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