Money in Politics
The influence of big money in politics undermines our democracy. When politicians accept large donations to influence policy, the public loses trust in our institutions. We must end this cycle of corruption.
I believe we should transition toward a publicly funded campaign system to ensure that elections are fair and not driven by private interests. Private money in government erodes democracy, infecting our systems and destroying public trust. To avoid this, we must act decisively.
Key Steps Toward Reform:
Empowering Watchdog Groups: We must increase funding and resources for watchdog organizations. These groups play a crucial role in holding those in power accountable. By enhancing their capabilities, we can strengthen the fight against corruption and increase transparency in governance.
Overturning Citizens United: The Citizens United decision opened the floodgates for unlimited, often untraceable, political spending by special interests. Ending this decision is a vital step toward shifting political priorities away from excessive fundraising and back to the business of governing.
Strengthening Local Enforcement: Corruption isn’t only a federal issue—it thrives at the local and state levels as well. By providing more resources to local ethics commissions and investigative bodies, we empower them to investigate, prosecute, and punish corrupt individuals effectively.
Proactive Legislation to Close Loopholes: Reinforcing existing laws is not enough. We must also create new, adaptive laws that address evolving tactics used to funnel outside money into politics. A proactive approach will make it harder for corrupt individuals and organizations to exploit legal loopholes.
Restoring Trust and Accountability: To restore public faith in government, we must promote transparency and hold politicians to higher ethical standards. Confronting government corruption head-on with bold reforms and proactive policies will help ensure that our democracy serves the people—not wealthy donors and special interests.
