Money in Politics

The influence of money in our political system has reached alarming levels, undermining the very foundation of our democracy. The Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC opened the floodgates for unlimited corporate spending in elections, allowing wealthy individuals and special interests to wield disproportionate influence over our political process. This has led to a system where political power is often correlated with financial power, marginalizing the voices of everyday Americans. It is imperative that we take decisive action to restore fairness and integrity to our electoral system.

Overturning Citizens United

I am committed to overturning Citizens United and ending the dominance of money in politics. This landmark decision has enabled a small number of wealthy donors to exert outsized influence on elections and policy decisions, often at the expense of the public interest. By overturning Citizens United, we can begin to dismantle the system of unlimited campaign contributions and restore a level playing field where every citizen’s voice has equal weight.

Making Political Office Accessible

One of my core beliefs is that political office should be accessible to all Americans, not just those with deep pockets or wealthy connections. To achieve this, we need comprehensive campaign finance reform that limits the amount of money that can be spent on elections and reduces the barriers to entry for average citizens who wish to run for office. Public financing of campaigns, coupled with strict limits on individual and corporate contributions, can help ensure that candidates are elected based on their ideas and commitment to public service, rather than their fundraising prowess. Now, to be candid, even those reforms won’t prevent the rich and powerful from having an advantage. That’s going to be hard to ever prevent completely. But these reforms are a start to at least try to make our democracy more fair and true to the spirit of freedom and choice.

Preventing Profit from Public Service

Holding public office is a sacred trust, and those who serve should be motivated by a desire to make a positive difference, not by personal financial gain. I support measures to make it as hard as possible to profit from public service. This includes:

• Stronger Ethics Rules: Implementing robust ethics rules that prevent conflicts of interest and ensure transparency in government operations.
• Lobbying Restrictions: Enforcing stringent restrictions – 10 years, at least – on lobbying by former public officials to prevent the revolving door between government and special interest groups.
• Term Limits: I believe in term limits for members of Congress. 6 years in the House, 12 years in the Senate. This isn’t a place to make a career or spend your life. You come to Congress, do the people’s work, then you go home.

Commitment to Reform

Our democracy functions best when it is truly representative of the people it serves. By addressing the corrupting influence of money in politics, we can create a government that is more responsive to the needs and desires of its citizens. I am dedicated to working towards comprehensive campaign finance reform and ensuring that political office is accessible to all, while fiercely protecting the integrity of public service.