Washington Hotlist » Campaign Finance

Another Case for Campaign Finance Reform

Steve Levine — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:26:17 +0000

Last November, America said a resounding NO to Republican ideas and a full-throated YES to change, including a new and sensible health care system. By what tortured logic, then, is the committee drafting new health legislation composed of an EQUAL number of Democrats and Republicans?

What kind of dysfunctional democracy do we have when the shape of that legislation rests in the hands of six senators from some of the smallest states in the Union? When passage of this vital measure is in the hands of just ONE of those senators — Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine – OLYMPIA SNOWE, for God’s sake!

No wonder Americans are taking to the streets. What’s puzzling is why even more of us aren’t storming the barricades to protest this insult to our intelligence and the violation of our public will.

Lord knows we need to reform our broken health care system. But to put the task in the hands of senators who are beholden to the very institutions we’re trying to reform is both futile and idiotic.

There will be no reform of this or any other aspect of our society until there is federal funding of all elections and we have removed the corrupting influence of campaign contributions from our political life.

So Much For Campaign Finance Reform

Joshua Rosenstock — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:01:52 +0000

Has there ever been a less effective piece of legislation than McCain-Feingold?

Unions, political action committees and other special interests shelled out nearly $98 million in independent expenditures to influence the presidential election, according to a CQ MoneyLine analysis of campaign finance reports through Nov. 4.

While there was no “Swift Boat” ad that defined this year’s White House race, these special interest groups created a strong presence by spending almost twice as much as the national party committees on independent ads, canvassing and other campaign activities.

The groups overwhelmingly favored Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, spending $48 million in his behalf since June, while Republican nominee John McCain was favored with $28 million over the same period. Another $22 million was spent during the primaries on behalf of all presidential contenders.

Leading the was the Service Employees International Union. It spent more than $28 million, a lot of it going to fund multi-lingual, 30-second spots promoting Obama and railing against McCain’s views on economic issues.

In addition to the service employees union, the groups that rung up the most in independent expenditures included:

- National Rifle Association of America, $6,890,820
- The National Republican Trust PAC, $6,592,925
- MoveOn.Org, $5,369,254
- United Auto Workers, $4,860,571
- National Right To Life Political Action Committee, $4,658,122
- American Federation of State County & Municipal Employees, $4,176,346
- 1199 Service Employees International Union, $3,910,471
- Let Freedom Ring Inc., $3,257,939
- American Federation of Teachers, $2,982,565

It’s one thing to amass millions of dollars in small donations, but it is quite another when one special interest group can give millions of dollars to a polical party and/or candidate. What do they think they are getting for that money, a thank you and a pat on the back? Pay for play politics needs to stop.

Yet Another McCain Flip Flop

Joshua Rosenstock — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:50:53 +0000

“We all know that a comprehensive solution is wind, tide, solar, all the other things all of us believe in. In the meantime, as we develop all of these alternate sources of energy, it will be vital that we continue oil production at a high level, including offshore drilling.”

Just last month, McCain reversed himself after years of opposition and called for lifting the federal ban on oil drilling off the U.S. coast.

How perfectly does the photo below epitomize the Republican Party? Mr. Campaign Finance Reform desperately needs campaign donations from oil companies to be competitive with Senator Obama which is why he has flip flopped on energy policy. This country desperately needs real campaign finance reform instead of the joke that we call our current policy (drafted of course by Senator McCain).

Remember When McCain Opposed Lobbyists?

Joshua Rosenstock — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:47:40 +0000

…Mr. McCain, who has locked up the Republican presidential nomination, has received more than $181,600 from lobbyists and trade groups, while Mr. Obama has received just over $6,000…”We are 100 percent behind McCain,â€ said Kathryn Braden Huffard, a lobbyist at Fierce, Isakowitz, whose clients include Fannie Mae, the mortgage giant. â€œIn the wake of the Abramoff affair, it seems, there has to be a villain. But Senator McCain understands that many lobbyists are smart people who have experience on the issues.â€

John McCain likes to talk a big game when it comes to many issues, including campaign finance reform, yet his actions speak much louder than his words. Since his signature campaign finance law went into effect six years ago, the amount of money poured into politics via special interests has skyrocketed.

Newsflash: Money Buys Access

Joshua Rosenstock — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:36:10 +0000

There once was a time when political conventions served a purpose, a time before our modern primary system when the party bigwigs would convene and select a presidential candidate in smoke-filled rooms. Well, it turns out, the conventions still serve a purpose after all:

Committees raising money for California delegations to the national conventions are asking wealthy donors to make six-figure donations in exchange for VIP-level treatment and seats to witness history. The top-price ticket package: $500,000, to be a “presidential host” at the GOP convention in St. Paul in September.

That’s right: if you can afford to drop half a million dollars, you get intimate access with the candidates, party insiders and special guests. Didn’t John McCain run his entire 2000 campaign on reducing the impact that money has on the legislative process? Now, he is a direct beneficiary of pay-to-play politics. In fact, the campaign finance law he passed with Senator Feingold is a joke:

Candidates are under strict fundraising rules in campaigns, but national political conventions present a virtual open door for giving. In 2004, for example, the Raytheon Co., Fidelity Investments and IBM each gave at least $1 million to the host committee for the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

All McCain managed to do was increase the number of staff attorneys required to comply with the new regulations and find more loopholes for those that want and always get special treatment. Both of the major parties are in bed with major financial interests and will only cater to their donors, not the American people. Real campaign finance reform (not the sham that Senator McCain designed) is needed to reduce the corrupting influence that unlimited sums of money have on our government. McCain overwhelmingly failed this test as a legislator; why give him a promotion for such a hypocritical failure?

Campaign Finance Reform R.I.P.

Joshua Rosenstock — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:34:19 +0000

No matter what happens in November, we all know who the real loser was in this election campaign (no it’s not Rudy Giuliani, I know what you are thinking). Anyone attempting to limit the corrupting effect that money has on our politicians and our political process can chalk one up in the loss column.

Wasn’t this supposed to be McCain’s pet issue? If he was so unsuccessful in achieving meaningful reform in this area, why should anyone believe he will effective in convincing Congress (that will most likely contain strong Democratic majorities in both Houses) to adopt other economic measures?

Obama Adopts A Clintonian Tactic

Joshua Rosenstock — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:25:27 +0000

“I’ll just say that I’ve released my tax returns. That’s been a policy I’ve maintained consistently. I think the American people deserve to know where you get your income from. But I’ll leave it up to you guys to chase it down. I’ve disclosed my income tax returns. I think we set the bar in terms of transparency and disclosure that has been a consistent theme of my campaign and my career in politics. I don’t have enough money to drop $5 million into a campaign.”

Senator Obama responding to reporters when asked whether he would call on the Clintons to release their tax returns, Obama stopped short of saying they should.

I agree on the point about transparency and disclosure but these types of requests should be made to the Clinton campaign directly by the still-asleep-at-the-wheel mainstream media, not passive-aggressively through Obama in a predictable attempt to stir up a little more juice in the coverage of the campaign. Unfortunately, the parent companies of our major media outlets are in bed with both of the major parties, depriving the voters of being able to fairly examine our politicians and hold them accountable for their words and acts beyond election day. Maybe a President McCain will return his focus to campaign finance reform and fundamentally change the relationship between politicians, campaign donors and lobbyists.

It is much more inappropriate for one candidate to make requests about tax returns to another – a tactic similar to those regularly employed by his rival in the Democratic race. The media should do its job instead of asking Obama to do it for them.

Still Waiting For Real Campaign Finance Reform

Joshua Rosenstock — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:28:01 +0000

One person should not have this much influence on a presidential election.

According to Federal Election Commission records, ClubForGrowth.net received $200,000 this month from Bob Perry, a Houston homebuilder who in 2004 pumped nearly $4.5 million into the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth to pay for unsubstantiated ads that questioned Kerry’s Vietnam service.

Another major donor is Jackson T. “Steve” Stephens Jr., a Little Rock, Ark., businessman and member of the Club for Growth’s board of directors. Stephens is a longtime critic of Huckabee who once considered running against him for governor. He has donated $200,000 to the group, including $100,000 this month.

Quote Of The Day

Joshua Rosenstock — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:11:20 +0000

“I’ve never done any favors for anybody Ã¢â‚¬â€ lobbyist or special interest group Ã¢â‚¬â€ that’s a clear, 24-year record.”

Another Clinton Tries To Have It Both Ways

Joshua Rosenstock — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:51:04 +0000

Some Hillary head scratchers from over the weekend:

1.) On readiness to lead:

“We need a president with a lifetime of experience in making positive change. This is what I have done during my life. This is what I believe in. I believe that I have an obligation, a responsibility and the honor to use the talents God gave me, that my parents helped to nurture, that my teachers helped to develop, on behalf of those who maybe aren’t quite so fortunate.”

First, she was for change. Now, she is for experience. Note the insertion of religious language to counter Senator Obama’s rhetoric.

2.) On campaign finance reform:

“I do take contributions from people who are legally able to give them. And I’ve taken on more special interests than anyone who’s running and I’ve paid a price for it, because, of course, I have taken the incoming criticism from those special interests. I guess I’m just absolutely clear in my own mind and heart that I will do what’s right because I’ve always tried to do that.”

Since when has Hillary been the maverick, anti-establishment politician?

3.) On foreign policy:

“I know this has been turned into a political issue, and I thank you for asking about it, but I do not favor war. I also believe we have to get tough in a diplomatic-pressure way with Iran, and I think that helps us do it. If it saves American lives by labeling them a terrorist organization, I’m going to label them a terrorist organization.”

Actions speak louder than words, Senator. If you don’t favor war, prove it with your votes, not your words.