Election Finance Reform

The best way to pre-determine the agenda of any candidate for public office is to follow the money.

So Where Does All This Money Come From?

Personal Donations

When candidates use their personal funds for campaign purposes, they are making contributions to their campaigns. Candidate contributions to their own campaigns are not subject to any limits. They must, however, be reported.

Contributions from members of the candidate’s family are subject to the same limits that apply to any other individual.

Political Parties

Political party funding is a method used by a political party to raise money for campaigns and routine activities. The funding of political parties is an aspect of campaign finance.

Political parties may be given money by organizations, businesses, individual donors and special interest groups, such as trade unions. The parties in turn, may offer money or gifts to a candidate.

PACS and Super PACS

PACs (Political Action Committees) and Super PACs are both vehicles for raising and spending money to influence elections, but they operate with different rules and restrictions. PACs have fundraising and donation limits and can contribute directly to candidates, while Super PACs can raise unlimited funds and only spend on independent expenditures, meaning they cannot donate directly to candidates or coordinate with them.

Joint Fundraising

Joint fundraising allows multiple political committees (like campaigns, PACs, or party committees) to share the costs and proceeds of a fundraising effort. A designated joint fundraising representative (JFR) manages the process, and participants agree on a formula for allocating both the gross proceeds and the fundraising expenses. Essentially, it's a way for donors to make a large contribution to multiple participants through a single check.

Our Proposal

Place all viable candidates for federal office on an even playing field. Ban all personal, corporate, political party, PAC and special interest donations. Rather, each viable candidate for federal office will be awarded the same amount of public money as the other viable candidates for that same office. Put the onus on the candidates to convince the voters why he or she should be hired to do the job.

The money would be a flat amount depending upon the position sought. For example, a candidate for President of the United States, would be granted a larger award than a candidate for US Senate or US House. Money could not be transferred to any other candidate or campaign. Any money not spent would have to returned to the US Treasury within seventy-two hours after the election results has been declared. Additionally, the candidate would be required to file a strict accounting, with supporting documentation, of how all of the money was spent.

Follow the Money

Open Secrets