Instead of focusing on jobs and helping working class families, the
Republican Leadership is hard at work today creating additional ways in
which corporations and special interests can dominate our elections
process.
Presidential Election Campaign Fund
Ending the Presidential Election Campaign Fund opens the door for large
political spenders to enjoy an even greater role in the funding of
political campaigns.
The voluntary public finance system for presidential campaigns was
created in the early 1970's as a direct result of Watergate - the
largest political scandal of our generation. Stopping corruption and
preventing the appearance of corruption is as important today as it was
during the Nixon years.
The level of spending by corporations and special interests since the
Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United case should give every
American a reason for concern. Do my Republican colleagues really
believe that more corporate and special interest money in politics is
going to benefit in any way the 99% of Americans who don't have
lobbyists?
The current public finance system for presidential elections does have
some problems. Most notably, the money available for candidates opting
into public financing funding has been outpaced by the cost of running a
modern campaign. However, instead of eliminating public financing of
presidential campaigns, we should instead try to modernize and fix the
system.
I would also point out that the Republican National Committee recently
received $18 million dollars from the same fund that Republicans are
proposing to eliminate today. If these funds are so objectionable to my
colleagues, perhaps they should ask the RNC to return this money.
Election Assistance Commission
I also oppose the elimination of the Election Assistance Commission.
The EAC is the only federal agency solely focused on improving the
administration of federal elections. The EAC develops voluntary election
management standards and is a voting information clearing house for
local election officials and voters.
The EAC was created after the debacle of the 2000 presidential
elections. Those of us who were here in 2000 remember how politically
tense those weeks were. Over 100 million votes were cast, but it took a
decision of the Supreme Court before a winner was declared. That
experience left a black eye on our elections process and it is not
something America should go through again.
With state and local government budgets facing record deficits, less
money is being allocated for the administering of elections. States and
local governments are depending on the work of the EAC now more than
ever.
Have there been problems at EAC? Yes, there has. Is change needed at the
EAC? Yes, there should be. The solution should be reforming EAC and
exercising rigorous oversight of this commission to make sure its
mission is being fulfilled.
We should not give up on ensuring the integrity of federal elections and
improving voter access at the polls. Too much is at stake here.
I urge my colleagues to vote NO on H.R. 3463.
Let's focus on jobs and fixing our economy instead of passing bills that
give corporations and special interests even greater influence in our
elections.