ApocalypseKurtz
Man, myth, legend
Oft criticized as they are, and mostly rightfully so, the Democrats and Republicans of the US appear to have finally come through with a fair, useful, universally beneficial, and necessary piece of legislature: Campaign Finance Reform.
Today (Wednesday) the House of Representatives narrowly passed the Chavy-Meehan Campaign Finance Reform Act. The Democrats virtually all voted for it, and just enough Republicans voted for it to get the required majority. The Senate has already passed a similar act, and seeing as it is Democrat-controlled, it will in all likelihood pass it. President Bush has already said that he would sign the act.
For those of you who don't know, this act will eliminate unlimited soft money contributions to political parties, thereby greatly reducing corporations' hold on the US Congress. Public funds will now be used to fund elections. Hard money donations will still be allowed, and by a Republican Amendment very narrowly passed to the act (by less than 10 votes), the hard money limit will be increased for $1,000 to 2,000. While I don't like the amendment because it will favor the rich in being able to contribute 2k instead of 1k (most people couldn't even afford to contribute more than 100-200 dollars), I still consider the passage of the act a great victory for fairness and democracy in elections.
Now candidates who may not have had the wealth to seriously run for candidacy in the past will now be on a much more level playing field. Representatives should be elected by their constituency based on their values and political beliefs and agendas, not based on how much of a fortune they have amassed.
Today (Wednesday) the House of Representatives narrowly passed the Chavy-Meehan Campaign Finance Reform Act. The Democrats virtually all voted for it, and just enough Republicans voted for it to get the required majority. The Senate has already passed a similar act, and seeing as it is Democrat-controlled, it will in all likelihood pass it. President Bush has already said that he would sign the act.
For those of you who don't know, this act will eliminate unlimited soft money contributions to political parties, thereby greatly reducing corporations' hold on the US Congress. Public funds will now be used to fund elections. Hard money donations will still be allowed, and by a Republican Amendment very narrowly passed to the act (by less than 10 votes), the hard money limit will be increased for $1,000 to 2,000. While I don't like the amendment because it will favor the rich in being able to contribute 2k instead of 1k (most people couldn't even afford to contribute more than 100-200 dollars), I still consider the passage of the act a great victory for fairness and democracy in elections.
Now candidates who may not have had the wealth to seriously run for candidacy in the past will now be on a much more level playing field. Representatives should be elected by their constituency based on their values and political beliefs and agendas, not based on how much of a fortune they have amassed.