Strengthen Regulations on Coordination:?The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the federal agency in charge of our nation?s campaign finance laws, but so far they?ve?done practically nothing?to address the U.S. Supreme Court?s disappointing decision in?Citizens United.?Under existing law, the FEC can work to define ?coordination? as a way of cutting back on the ?independent? expenditures that really are coordinated with candidate campaigns, but thus far they have refused to do so. Last year, the League provided testimony and sent nearly 30,000??comments?to the FEC encouraging them to redefine these two terms and end corruption in politics.
Improve Disclosure: Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy said: ?Disclosure permits citizens and shareholders to react to the speech of corporate entities in a proper way.? Citizens have a right to know who is trying to influence their vote, and disclosure of donations and spending is necessary to shine a light on secret money. The League is a longtime supporter of the?DISCLOSE Act?and we will continue to push for passage of this important piece of legislation.
Establish a Public Financing System:?The League believes that public financing is the best long term solution to getting big money out of politics. States like Washington, Connecticut and?Maine?have had success in public financing with state house and statewide elections. The League continues to look for?ways to limit the size and type of contributions?from all sources as a means of combating undue influence in the election process.
Vote:?As the President alluded during his State of the Union address, if the American public wants to get money out of politics, it?s time to take our elections back. Voting is the most powerful form of expression that a single citizen has. When citizens vote, politicians have to listen. In fact, the only thing that can stop the flood of money is a flood of voters. Each voter who shows up diminishes the influence of every dollar spent trying to swing an election. We must improve voter turnout and engage with our communities to combat the undue influence of money in our political system.?Get registered?and participate in the upcoming presidential primaries and caucuses!
