Issue Position: Ethics and Campaign Reform

Issue Position

Issue Position: Ethics and Campaign Reform

Those of us who hold elected office must always keep sight of who we serve: the American people. It is our duty to uphold the democratic principles on which this nation was founded and preserve the faith of the American people in our democracy. Among other things, this means limiting the influence of lobbyists and wealthy campaign donors. We also need to guarantee that voters have the right to choose from a variety of candidates, and to see and trust the workings of their government.

Fair Elections

As political campaign costs continue to skyrocket, many members of Congress feel pressured to spend too much time raising money and not enough time legislating. At the same time, challengers who lack name recognition struggle to raise the funds it takes to compete. My Fair Elections Now Act would restore public confidence in the election process by allowing qualified candidates to receive campaign funds from the Senate Fair Elections Fund instead of asking for money from private interests. In return, participating candidates would voluntarily agree to limit their campaign spending to the amount allocated to them. This alternative to traditional privately financed campaigns would free candidates from the money chase that has tainted public perceptions of elected officials and fostered abuses that undermine our democracy. And it would allow candidates to put their focus where it belongs: in better serving the needs of all the people, not just a wealthy few.

Government Transparency

The American public should have confidence in the work of the government. To help earn that confidence, the federal government should practice greater disclosure, more transparency, and secure firewalls between lobbyists and Congress.

Legislative earmarks are used by Congress to promote specific, constructive projects in individual communities. I am proud of the work we have been able to do in Illinois with earmarked funding, but it is imperative that the public has complete information about how these federal dollars will be spent and why. I have supported legislation that makes it easier for citizens to see where their tax dollars are going, to increase the transparency of the legislative process, and to ban gifts from lobbyists to Members of Congress and their staff.

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