Mick Mulvaney's comments show the corruption and problem of pay-to-play politics, but voters already understand this problem. Americans feel it every day when we know our needs are not being prioritized like lobbyists' wants.
Voters need proven solutions, so here are a few:
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Voters need proven solutions, so here are a few:
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We need to improve our disclosure laws to ensure everyone knows who is spending money to influence our elected officials. There should be no such thing as a "secret money" or "dark money" group. We have a right to see all money being raised & spent in elections.
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We need to move to a campaign finance system that empowers small donors. States like Connecticut & Maine (and many cities and counties across the US) have successful campaign public financing programs that match small dollar contributions with public funds.
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These citizen funded election programs have been proven to make candidates & elected officials spend more time listening to and focusing on everyday voters and diminish the power of wealthy special interests. These laws can fundamentally changes who has power in our politics.
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We also need to make sure we have:
- reasonable contribution limits
- laws that stop "independent" outside groups from secretly working w/ candidates
- restrictions on foreign $ in US elections
- a functional empowered gov't enforcement agency to hold law breakers accountable
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- reasonable contribution limits
- laws that stop "independent" outside groups from secretly working w/ candidates
- restrictions on foreign $ in US elections
- a functional empowered gov't enforcement agency to hold law breakers accountable
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We need Congress to pass a constitutional amendment, and send to the states for ratification, that will overturn Citizens United and similar #SCOTUS decisions.
Every generation of Americans has amended the Constitution. Now it is our turn.
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Every generation of Americans has amended the Constitution. Now it is our turn.
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We also have to change the way judges view the problem of money in politics. For too long judges have only seen this problem as an issue of corruption, but the truth is it is much more than that. It is about equal representation for all Americans.
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Campaign finance reform alone won't fix the many governance problems our democracy faces.
The truth is there is no silver bullet fix our democracy. Instead, our job as citizens, voters, and Americans is to build a democracy we want our children and grandchildren to live in.
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The truth is there is no silver bullet fix our democracy. Instead, our job as citizens, voters, and Americans is to build a democracy we want our children and grandchildren to live in.
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That means we must also tackle other flaws in our democratic system, like gerrymandering & voting.
States have shown us the solutions that work, like California & Arizona's independent redistricting commissions, and automatic voter registration laws in over a dozen states.
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States have shown us the solutions that work, like California & Arizona's independent redistricting commissions, and automatic voter registration laws in over a dozen states.
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If you are interested in winning these solutions and building a democracy that works for everyone, not just the special interest lobbyists who can write the biggest checks to Mick Mulvaney and his friends, join us at commoncause.org
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