Private
money
in
elections
undermines
a
truly
democratic
political
process.
Changing
the
way
elections
are
financed
is
the
first
and
most
important
step
in
resolving
this
shameful
situation.
If
private
money
continues
to
dominate
American
politics,
the
desires
of
the
affluent
and
special
interests
will
control
legislation
and
the
rest
of
us
will
be
ignored.
If
we
change
campaign
finance
laws
we
will
help
create
a
democracy
in
which
laws
and
policy
reflect
the
will
of
the
majority
of
the
American
people.
What’s
wrong
with
the
present
system?
>>
Politicians,
who
depend
on
huge
sums
of
money
to
run
their
campaigns,
respond
more
to
the
concerns
of
wealthy
donors
and
special
interests
than
they
do
to
the
concerns
of
their
constituents
>>
Those
without
access
to
wealth
are
locked
out
of
the
system,
unable
to
afford
running
for
office.
>>
Candidates
and
elected
officials
spend
too
much
time
fundraising
and
not
enough
time
talking
to
ordinary
people
or
thinking
about
important
issues.
>>
Because
of
the
corrupting
influence
of
money
in
politics,
many
Americans
have
lost
faith
in
the
system.
This
is
especially
true
of
young
Americans.
>>
Privately
financed
election
campaigns
cost
taxpayers
money.
>>
Campaign
spending
is
out
of
control.
A Solution: Clean
Money
Campaign
Reform
Clean
Money
Campaign
Reform
(CMCR)
represents
the
most
comprehensive
and
far-reaching
approach
to
campaign
reform.
CMCR
removes
the
defining
influence
of
money
in
elections
by
creating
an
alternate
system
of
public
funding.
Candidates
who
would
not
otherwise
be
able
to
compete
because
of
limited
funds
now
stand
a
chance
against
wealthy
opponents,
without
having
to
compromise
themselves
and
their
ideals
by
accepting
private,
large
corporate
and
special
interest
donations.
CMCR
provides
strong
incentives
for
candidates
to
participate
-
they
receive
a
set
amount
of
Clean
Money
from
a
public
fund
if
they
agree
to
reject
private
money
and
limit
their
spending.
As
a
completely
voluntary
system
(no
candidate
is
ever
obliged
to
participate),
CMCR
stands
up
to
all
constitutional
scrutiny.
In
practice,
CMCR:
>>
Gives
candidates
the
option
to
reject
private
contributions
if
they
agree
to
participate
in
the
CMCR
system,
>>
Reduces
campaign
spending,
>>
Protects
candidates’
integrity
and
the
integrity
of
the
lawmaking
process,
>>
Bans
the
use
of
"soft
money"
to
influence
elections,
>>
Makes
available
free
or
discounted
television
time
for
federal
candidates
and
requires
candidate
debates
>>
Addresses
the
problem
of
electioneering
efforts
that
masquerade
as
non-electoral
"issue
campaigns,"
>>
Provides
additional
funding
to
Clean
Money
candidates
targeted
by
independent
expenditures,
>>
Deepens
disclosure
and
toughens
enforcement.
Why
You
Should
Care
About
Money
in
Politics
STUDENTS
|
"Did
you
know
that
the
interest
rates
and
taxes
you
pay
on
student
loans
are
indexed
to
the
generous
campaign
contributions
of
the
banking
industry?"
Students
should
care
that
many
university
trustees
are
political
appointees
--
payback
for
big
campaign
contributions.
“The
current
generation
of
young
people…care
deeply
about
their
communities,
but
they
also
care
about
their
time.
They
are
too
savvy
for
empty
actions.
Hence,
they
demand
actions
that
matter…Campaign
finance
reform
bridges
the
gap
between
students'
social
concerns,
personal
needs,
and
the
world
of
politics…While
they
see
immediate
benefits
to
their
actions,
they
also
see
long
term
significance
because
we
are
winning
on
this
issue."
ENVIRONMENTALISTS
|
"Anti-environmental
special
interests
pollute
our
democratic
process
with
large
dirty
money
political
contributions…A
large
majority
of
Americans
believe
that
protection
of
the
environment
should
be
given
top
priority,
yet
Congress
passed
53
anti-environmental
laws
as
part
of
the
2000
federal
budget."
WOMEN
|
"Why
does
the
face
of
the
U.S.
Congress
not
reflect
the
voting
strength
of
women
or
the
proportion
of
women
in
American
society?
The
answer
has
to
do
with
money:
specifically
a
campaign
finance
system
that
favors
incumbents."
"Close
to
a
million
moms
marched
on
Washington
and
other
cities
this
Mothers
Day,
demanding
sensible
legislation
out
of
Congress
on
the
issue
of
gun
safety.
Their
demands,
backed
by
the
vast
majority
of
Americans
according
to
all
the
polls,
deserve
support.
But...
it
is
the
everyday
march
of
millions
of
dollars
in
campaign
contributions
that
matter
more
on
a
host
of
issues
of
direct
concern
to
mothers
everywhere.
"
CIVIL
RIGHTS
ADVOCATES
|
Only
5%
of
congressional
campaign
donors
who
are
made
by
non-whites.
"There
are
some
2,500
zip
codes
with
more
than
50
percent
people
of
color
and
a
total
population
of
41
million.
In
those
areas,
only
8
out
of
every
10,000
people
is
a
political
player,
i.e.,
gives
a
contribution
of
$200
or
more.
Compare
that
to
the
26
top-giving
zips,
where
more
than
400
in
10,000
give
a
contribution."
CONSUMERS/WORKERS
|
"Working
families
are
being
hit
hard
by
rising
costs
for
food,
medicine,
and
phone
rates
-
costs
made
higher
by
the
influence
of
the
campaign
contributions
by
food,
drug
and
telecommunications
companies."
"Working
people
do
have
some
money-backed
clout
on
Capitol
Hill.
Organized
labor
has
always
been
a
political
force
to
be
reckoned
with
and
an
active
player
in
the
money-in-politics
game.
But
labor's
political
outlays
pale
in
comparison
to
those
of
their
political
adversaries
.
.
.."
Furthermore,
"the
tax
code…is
the
product
of
a
Congress
with
an
addiction
to
campaign
money.
The
victims
are
ordinary
Americans
who
don't
have
the
kind
of
cash
it
takes
to
influence
their
representatives
in
Washington
,
DC
."
CONSERVATIVES
|
Conservative
Americans
worry
about
wasting
taxes.
But
when
private
money
funds
campaigns
it
fuels
wasteful
government
spending
as
"pay-backs"
in
the
form
of
tax
breaks
for
big
contributors
and
laws
that
favor
corporations
over
consumers.
This
means
higher
taxes
for
all
of
us,
and
is
a
huge
waste
of
tax
dollars.
Conservatives
want
to
maintain
stability
in
our
political
system,
but
when
less
than
half
of
eligible
Americans
vote
and
many
more
are
deeply
alienated
from
politics,
the
threat
to
our
democracy
is
serious.
Conservatives
should
support
getting
private
money
out
of
politics.
Clean
Elections:
The
Issue