Anti Corruption Act
Highlights of the Anti-Corruption Act:
- Members of Congress and candidates for federal office may not accept contributions in connection with an election for federal office from a lobbyist.
- Prohibit lobbyists from bundling campaign contributions in connection with an election for federal office.
- Extend the existing revolving door limitations applicable to Members of Congress and congressional staff to 5 years for former Members, and 5 years for former congressional staffers who are either (1) paid at a rate of 75% or more of a Member’s salary, or (2) whose duties are not primarily secretarial in nature.
- Prohibit Members of Congress and senior congressional staff from negotiating or having any arrangement concerning prospective private employment, including engaging in any preliminary or exploratory discussions regarding such employment, while a Member of Congress or senior congressional staff.
- Prohibit Members of Congress from engaging in political fundraising and soliciting between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day in which their House of Congress is in session and is not adjourned or in recess for that entire day, and during any other hours in which the Member’s House of Congress or any committee or subcommittee thereof of which they are a member is conducting business.
- Require automatic electronic disclosure of political fundraising and expenditures over $200.
- Enact the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act of 2015, S. 229, H.R. 430, 114th Congress, to end dark and grey money.
- Require disclosure of bundlers of contributions. Require incumbent federal officials and candidates for federal office to disclose the identity of any individual who is authorized by or known to the official or candidate to collect and transmit contributions to their campaign committee or leadership PAC, regardless of whether or not the individual is a lobbyist.
- The FEC’s current coordination regulations permit extensive collaboration between candidates and supposedly “independent” Super PACs. Amend the Federal Election Campaign Act to create reasonable presumptions of coordination under which an expenditure made by a Super PAC is treated as a contribution to the candidate.
- Ensure that paid lobbyists are identified. Current law turns on two requirements to trigger lobbyist status: (1) two lobbying contacts, and (2) 20% of time for client spent engaging in lobbying activities. Instead, set the threshold as (1) two lobbying contacts or providing strategic advice to lobbying efforts or directing or supervising the provision of strategic advice to lobbying efforts, and (2) 12 hours or more spent engaging in lobbying activities.
- Require electronic disclosure of the specific officials, offices, committees, or subcommittees contacted; all entities (contractors and subcontractors) employed or retained to engage in lobbying activities, along with description of such lobbying activities; and the identity of each former covered official employed or retained by the registrant who engaged in lobbying activities on behalf of the client, along with description of such lobbying activities. Do away with Internal Revenue Code reporting option for lobbying expenses.
- Any person or entity failing to come into full compliance with the requirements of this Act within one year after being identified by the Comptroller General as noncompliant shall be prohibited from engaging in any activities that would require the person or entity to be a registrant or a lobbyist for a period of 2 years.
- Enact the Federal Election Administration Act of 2016, S. 2611, 114th Cong. The Act would replace the failed Federal Election Commission (FEC) with a new 5-member Federal Election Administration (FEA) empowered to find that violations of law have occurred and directly impose civil penalties. The FEA would, like other enforcement agencies, use impartial administrative law judges to hear and decide campaign finance enforcement proceedings.
- Enact the Public Corruption Prosecution Improvements Act of 2012, S. 401, 112th Cong. Sponsored by Senator Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Cornyn (R-TX), the Public Corruption Prosecution Improvements Act of 2012 was included in the Senate-passed version of the STOCK Act, and was based on an identical bill passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
We agree with the For a People's Party Platform:
"Corruption is legal and rampant in America. Our political system is awash in corporate and billionaire money. We no longer have elections, we have auctions. Politicians say what their voters want to hear and do what their donors want to see. The problem is not a lack of honest politicians. It is a system that structurally incentivizes and rewards corruption. Politicians will serve donors and special interests as long as that is the way to win."
CONTROL:
Wealthy people, corporations and those who control Political Action Committees (PACS) have hijacked the election process in a manner that amounts to legalized bribery. This system desperately needs to be controlled and made to be 100% transparent
Wealthy people, corporations and those who control Political Action Committees (PACS) have hijacked the election process in a manner that amounts to legalized bribery. This system desperately needs to be controlled and made to be 100% transparent
FREEDOM:
Individuals should be allowed to spend as much money as they want in support of their political choices, but their contributions need to be 100% transparent. This freedom should NOT apply to corporations, institutions or political action committees
Individuals should be allowed to spend as much money as they want in support of their political choices, but their contributions need to be 100% transparent. This freedom should NOT apply to corporations, institutions or political action committees
CHANGE:
The vast majority of people in America feel that government officials have been corrupted by money in the form of campaign donations and money and support from lobbyists. Change is desperately needed.
The vast majority of people in America feel that government officials have been corrupted by money in the form of campaign donations and money and support from lobbyists. Change is desperately needed.
TRADITION:
We all treasure the idea that politicians should work to improve the conditions for all people in the country rather than work to feather their own nest.
We all treasure the idea that politicians should work to improve the conditions for all people in the country rather than work to feather their own nest.
