For Immediate Release: August 21, 2013

Media Contact: Ben Herman-617-281-3633

JOE AVELLONE CALLS FOR STRONGER PEOPLES PLEDGE Following Treasurer Grossmans call for the all Democratic candidates to sign onto the Peoples Pledge, candidate Joe Avellone has put forward a more robust plan to ensure a fair and issue-oriented campaign, The Commonwealth Pledge. While Treasurer Grossmans plan is a good starting point, the loopholes in the Peoples Pledge still allow for money to flow in from PACs, lobbyists, and other special interests. If elected officials are truly going to be beholden to the people, then we must ensure that no special interest can gain the upper hand through the power of the purse. This past week, the Secretary of the Commonwealths office announced that lobbying is now a $100 million business in Massachusetts. In 2012 alone, $1.2 million in campaign contributions were given from lobbyists. To exempt this group from the Peoples Pledge is a huge oversight. The Commonwealth Pledge presents a unique opportunity to change the role of money in politics. Of this opportunity, Avellone said, The citizens of our Commonwealth deserve a government that is truly beholden to them and only them. My approach to the Peoples Pledge will ensure that it will be so. The pledge should call for each candidate to refuse donations from all Political Action Committees, lobbyists and lobbying groups, and all state employees. These restrictions will safeguard this all too important election from being influenced by special interests, and will make sure this election focuses on what is truly important: the people of Massachusetts.

Under the Commonwealth Pledge, 100% of all contributions received from SuperPACs, lobbyists, and state employees must be donated to The One Fund. This closes a major loophole in the original Peoples Pledge, which only covered paid advertisement money.

Avellone calls on all Democratic candidates to sign onto The Commonwealth Pledge. Massachusetts deserves bold action. Hopefully the rest of the Democratic field will stand up against politics as usual and say no to special interests.