Let’s Remove Big Money From Campaigns

Berkley Bedell represented Iowa in the U.S. House from 1975 to 1987 and is working on behalf of Common Cause. He writes in the DesMoines Register about campaign Finance reform.

…I’ve heard hundreds of candidates who said they were running to “change business as usual in Washington.” In fact, this presidential race has at least 15 candidates running for “change.”

What’s wrong with Washington? Why does it always appear ripe for a change? I served in the U.S. House of Representatives for six terms, so I’ve been on the inside. I know that most elected officials want to serve the public’s best interest, but the results don’t always show it.

That’s because big money rules politics. Those of us on the outside know when our voices aren’t heard. We’ve seen too many common-sense notions – providing affordable health care for all Americans, addressing global warming, creating sensible tax policy – fall flat in the face of powerful campaign contributors and their lobbyists, who are out for their own interests, not the common good of the American people.

…Candidates who have committed in writing to work for public financing of congressional elections:

Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, a Democrat, former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel, a Democrat, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). All six returned the questionnaire and checked the box stating that they support the successful systems in Maine and Arizona and would work to pass the same reform at the federal level.

Candidates who have made no such written commitment: Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Republican, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Republican, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson. I should note that Richardson signed into law a full public-financing system for judicial elections in New Mexico, and has spoken favorably about public financing at events in Iowa and elsewhere. Clinton has verbally indicated support for public financing. At one event, Huckabee allowed that “anything would be better than the current system” of financing campaigns, but wasn’t sure about public financing. Most of the top Republican contenders did not reply to us in writing and have not taken any clear position.

…A bill in Congress, the Fair Elections Now Act, would create a voluntary, full public-funding system for congressional races. Let’s make sure all the candidates know that public financing is the change we need in Washington and around the country, to make our democracy work for everyone.

It seems to me that if we want more collaboration in government we need to elect more centrists and fewer extreme partisans. And the only way moderate/centrists/independents can get elected is if they can broadcast their point of view without pandering to extremist donors and voters. Once we can reach a critical mass of moderation then perhaps we can reform redistricting to make most elections competitive, and make genuine progress on evolving our government to be more efficient in nurturing the wellbeing of our citizens.

I wish other former representatives who are also discouraged with the pandering games would step forward to champion changes to renovate our democracy.