Issue Position: Campaign Finance Reform

Issue Position

Vast concentrations of wealth and power are inherently undemocratic. Everyone deserves the opportunity to influence the governmental decisions that affect them, but a defining characteristic of politics in the United States today is a corrupt campaign finance system that enables corporate and wealthy elites to purchase political outcomes.

Even well-intentioned candidates often succumb, due to the fact that campaigns in this country are so long and so expensive. By comparison, campaigns are typically four months in Germany, three months in Austria, two months in Italy and Canada, less than two months in the UK, Belgium, and Denmark. Campaign spending in many of those countries is capped, so the amount of time and attention candidates need to devote to fundraising is limited. In the U.S., even after elections are over our public officials feel pressure to keep raising money for the next campaign. This creates a culture that allows major donors access to public officials that the average citizen doesn't get.

Toward addressing this problem, there has been a laudable movement to implement small-donor matching systems of campaign fundraising. New York City's Campaign Finance Act provides money to candidates who accept expenditure limits and enhanced disclosure. It boosts the impact of small donations by matching up to $175 of each contribution at a six-to-one ratio once minimum thresholds are met. Connecticut's public campaign financing program is funded through the Citizens' Election Program. This program provides grant money to candidates who raise a specified number of low-sum qualifying contributions (thresholds vary according to office sought) and who agree to abide by spending limits.

Eventually the goal should be full public financing of elections, including free and equal radio and television time on the public airwaves for all ballot-qualified candidates and parties. Corporations should be prohibited from spending to influence elections.

A key part of campaign finance reform is disclosure. Requiring timely electronic reporting of contributions would allow the public, media, and policymakers to see who is providing funds as campaigns are in progress. And all "independent advocacy organizations" should be required to disclose their contributors.

Campaign finance reform is about returning the political process to the people. Failure to place reasonable restrictions on the role of money in elections results in wealthy individuals, large corporations, and lobbying firms dominating the political system.

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