Money in Politics
The problem with money in politics is not so much the amount that is spent on campaigns as it is who pays for them, what they get in return, and how that affects public policy and spending priorities.
Big money has long dominated our elections, and the problem only got worse in 2010 after the Citizens United ruling, in which the Supreme Court turned its back on more than 100 years of law to pave the way for billionaires to spend unlimited amounts of money on direct campaigns to elect or defeat federal candidates, adding to the enormous influence they already have within the political process.
Common Cause is working diligently to expose the role of special interests, and promote reforms that put democracy back in the hands of "we the people."
Fair Elections
The Way Forward
Instead of focusing on jobs and the economy, health care, and the mortgage crisis, elected officials in Washington spend too much time raising money from the lobbyists and industries they’re supposed to oversee. It’s time to get our elected officials out of the fundraising game and let them do the job we elected them to do.
In a citizen-funded "Fair Elections" system, qualified candidates who take no contributions larger than $100 can run for Congress on a blend of small donations and public funds.
The pay-to-play political game must come to an end. Common Cause is strongly urging Congress to pass the Fair Elections Now Act.
ALEC
American Legislative Exchange Council
Some of the nation's largest and richest companies, including Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Koch Industries and AT&T, have joined forces to invest millions of dollars each year to promote the careers of thousands of state legislators and secure passage of legislation that puts corporate interests ahead of the interests of ordinary Americans.
DISCLOSE Act
Ending Secret Spending in Elections
The 2010 midterm election campaign was the most expensive in history, with hundreds of millions spent by anonymous, outside groups – thanks to the Citizens United case.
The DISCLOSE (Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections) Act would be an important step on behalf of transparency in politics because it would ensure that voters understand who is paying for the ads they see and hear.
"Clean Elections" in the States
Changing the Way America Pays for Elections
Clean Elections give citizens a greater voice in their government, while greatly reducing the undue influence of special interest money in politics. Clean Elections-style reforms in Maine, Arizona, New Mexico, Connecticut, North Carolina, and New Jersey have proven effective and popular with voters and candidates alike.
Recent Common Cause-backed victories include:
- New Mexico enacted Clean Elections for judicial races, and Albuquerque did it for municipal races.
- New Jersey improved and reauthorized its Clean Elections pilot project for a handful of legislative races.
- North Carolina passed a Clean Elections pilot project for down-ticket statewide offices.
Other Campaign Finance Reforms
Reducing the Influence of Big Money
