Proposition 211 would help bring honor back to Arizona politics

I had the pleasure of serving as your governor during a simpler time. A simpler time when you actually knew who your political opponent was.

Today, running for office requires great risk and great courage. Risk that you never know who your actual political opponent might be. It’s like being in a boxing match with an opponent you can’t see. It takes substantial courage to fight someone you can’t even see.

It is time to end that.

That’s why I am joining Democrats, Republicans and independents asking you to vote “yes” on Proposition 211, the Voters’ Right to Know Act. If passed, any group spending more than $50,000 on statewide campaigns or $25,000 on local campaigns will have to disclose the names of the original contributors who provided the money for the campaigns.

'Dark money' shouldn't get special treatment

Former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard is leading this effort. You may remember that Terry ran against me in 1990. He was a worthy opponent and ran an honorable campaign.

Today he is trying to bring honor back to Arizona politics through Proposition 211, and I am proud to support Terry and this initiative.

Another view: Proposition 211 sets up conservatives for harassment

“Dark money” is political spending on elections by anonymous sources. Dark money benefactors have the power to donate unlimited funds without any disclosure, ultimately impacting the results of our elections.

The contributions of ordinary citizens are capped and are a matter of public record, yet a few organizations and individuals are protected from declaring their donations. It is time to end that, and this initiative will do that.

Arizonans have the right to know who is participating in our elections. Today undisclosed contributions could be coming from out of state, out of country – potentially even organized crime groups, drug cartels or foreign governments. We don“t know.

Other states demand disclosure. Arizona can, too

We must put an end to this. We must return the power to the voters, to the people of our great state and demand that contributions be disclosed.

This is as it was and as it should be today.

Arizona’s Senate race was one of the top in the nation to attract dark money in the 2020 election, according to Open Secrets, with more than $1.7 million pumped into the race.

This election cycle seems to be just as bad, as anonymous political spending is used to attack people and issues and the public is in the dark as to who is cutting the checks.

It’s not right. Arizona voters deserve to know the individuals and corporations that are influencing our vote.

Other states such as Alaska and Montana have demanded disclosure, and it’s time for Arizona to do the same. As the late conservative Supreme Court Justice Anton Scalia wrote, “Requiring people to stand up in public for their political acts fosters civic courage, without which democracy is doomed. For my part, I do not look forward to a society which, thanks to the Supreme Court, campaigns anonymously ... . This does not resemble the Home of the Brave.”

It is time we live up to the late Justice Scalia’s hopes for our country and be brave. This initiative will do that. It deserves your support. Please vote yes on Proposition 211.

Fife Symington, a Republican, served as Arizona governor from 1991 to 1997. More information is available at info@stopdarkmoney.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Prop. 211 would help bring honor back to Arizona politics