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	FALL, 1998 - VOLUME 18 Download Entire Volume

	The color of money: The role of money in elections is taken to court in several states The Western States Center’s Money in Western Politics Project began in 1991 to track the flow of candidate and ballot measure contributors. Since that time our research has led us to become strong proponents of a voluntary full public financing option known as Clean Money Campaign Reform. Enacted in Maine and Vermont in the past couple of years, and on the ballot in Massachusetts and Arizona in November ‘98, Clean Money sets up a competing system to the status quo where candidates who refuse to use private wealth and private contributions are allocated a limited amount of public money to campaign. This article highlights some of the current trends in Campaign Reform.



	Sovereignty under siege: Anti-Indian bill aborted, but the struggle over native rights continues On April 7, 1998 the anti-Indian movement rallied near Seattle, Washington in a show of support for the "American Indian Equal Justice Act." This display of militant racism was occasioned by a field hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee on the proposed Act, Senate Bill 1691. Sponsored by U.S. Senator Slade Gorton (R-Wash.), the bill attacked tribal sovereignty and immunity on such issues as taxation, liability, tort law, and the tribal court system.



	The anti-Indian movement In the years since the 1994 Republican revolution, a flurry of anti-Indian legislation has descended from Congress. This spring, Sen. Slade Gorton (R-WA), led an all-out attack on tribal sovereignty by proposing a bill in the U.S. Senate that would have overturned tribal sovereign immunity. Sovereign immunity is granted to most governmental bodies (tribal and non-tribal) and provides protection from lawsuits by individuals. Gorton has been joined in his efforts by Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) and Rep. Jack Metcalf (R-WA).



	Youth Organizing in the Northwest The Seattle Young People's Project (SYPP) is one of several organizations dedicated to politically educating young people in the Northwest. Although involved in a wide range of activities, they share a dedication to meeting young people where they are and providing the tools for their self-empowerment — and modeling those ideas within their organizational structures.



	Taking the initiative - Learning the "Right" lessons Ever wonder why the ballot initiative process seems dominated by right-wing and conservative measures? Why antilabor, anti-gay, anti-affirmative action, revenue reduction, consumer-unfriendly, and other reactionary initiatives are the rule rather than the exception? Sure, in the 23 states and the District of Columbia where the initiative process exists, progressive groups use it, but right-wing initiatives maintain a higher profile, are better funded, and are coordinated with closely contested electoral races much more often than progressive measures. Judging from the record, you’d think right wing initiative proponents had developed a national ballot measure strategy.



	Urban sprawl and social justice: The answer to urban sprawl may be restructuring our tax code Established communities pay for new sprawl, and working people shoulder the heaviest tax burdens. Yet growth is still often seen as solely an environmental issue, leading to limited and misguided responses.



	Voices of support for the faces of affirmative action Affirmative action programs are under attack around the country, most immediately in Washington State, where ballot initiative No. 200 will abolish all state affirmative action programs. Last issue, we looked at reasons to support these programs. Here we hear from several beneficiaries of affirmative action.



	Organizing for electoral power: How to use the initiative process to build our movement Progressives don’t have a choice but to engage in the electoral arena, and particularly, in the initiative process, because initiatives have become one of the main avenues used by the Right to advance its agenda and to wedge apart constituencies using divide-and-conquer tactics.



	Labor defeat averted: Nevada labor defeats paycheck protection In Nevada this summer, a "paycheck protection" initiative was narrowly averted from being placed on the ballot. It’s funny, though; if 'paycheck protection' passed, the work unions do every day to protect workers paychecks and improve them would grind to a stop.



	From the director's desk In early June some 700 people packed Bosie State University’s Special Event Center to celebrate the life and mourn the sudden death of Brian Bergquist. Thanks to people like Brian Bergquist, the days are gone when campaigns of harassment and intimidation will go unanswered.



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