The resolution below is written for federal level elected officials (Senators and Congress members).
We also write unique local resolutions for municipalities across Maryland as a part of their individual jurisdictions resolution campaign. All resolutions may contain parts or all of the language below and more specific calls to action as needed.
We also write unique local resolutions for municipalities across Maryland as a part of their individual jurisdictions resolution campaign. All resolutions may contain parts or all of the language below and more specific calls to action as needed.
Resolution to establish that tough, new anti-‐corruption laws for politicians, lobbyists, and outside groups such as Super PACs are necessary in order to protect and promote the First Amendment free speech rights of all citizens, regardless of wealth, and to restore ordinary Americans as the most important stakeholders in government instead of major donors.
WHEREAS, limits on contributions to political candidates are justified by the need to reduce corruption and the appearance of corruption, as outlined in Buckley v. Valeo (1976);
WHEREAS, contributions to candidates, and political spending on their behalf, from lobbyists and SuperPACs, present a special risk of corruption; and,
WHEREAS, the Supreme Court held in Nevada Commission on Ethics v. Carrigan (2011) that restrictions on official actions taken
by legislators in situations in which their independence of judgment is questioned do not constitute restrictions on the First Amendment free speech rights of legislators; and,
WHEREAS, closing the “revolving door”, where elected representatives and senior staff sell off their legislative power for high-‐paying jobs, is important to ensure that government employees are not “influenced in the performance of public duties by the thought of later reaping a benefit from a private individual.” Brown v. District of Columbia Board of Zoning, 41A.2d 1276, 1282 (D.C. App. 1980); and,
WHEREAS, full transparency of all political money is necessary for the growth of an educated and informed electorate; and,
WHEREAS, with nearly $6 billion spent in the 2012 elections, where the vast majority came from big special interest donors, politicians are dependent on a tiny percentage of the population to fund raise their campaigns while ordinary voters have less and less influence; and,
WHEREAS, federal agencies such as the Federal Election Commission routinely fail to enforce the anti-‐corruption rules that already exist;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the undersigned organization agrees that tough, new anti-corruption laws must be passed by Congress, including legislation to prohibit politicians from taking campaign money from industries they regulate; put limits on unregulated SuperPACs and other groups; increase transparency for campaign funding; stop elected representatives and senior staff from negotiating jobs while in office and bar them from all lobbying activity for five years once they leave; empower all voters through a $100 tax rebate to contribute to the candidates they support; and strengthen federal agencies and House and Senate ethics committees to enforce the rules against politicians and special interests that break campaign finance law.
WHEREAS, limits on contributions to political candidates are justified by the need to reduce corruption and the appearance of corruption, as outlined in Buckley v. Valeo (1976);
WHEREAS, contributions to candidates, and political spending on their behalf, from lobbyists and SuperPACs, present a special risk of corruption; and,
WHEREAS, the Supreme Court held in Nevada Commission on Ethics v. Carrigan (2011) that restrictions on official actions taken
by legislators in situations in which their independence of judgment is questioned do not constitute restrictions on the First Amendment free speech rights of legislators; and,
WHEREAS, closing the “revolving door”, where elected representatives and senior staff sell off their legislative power for high-‐paying jobs, is important to ensure that government employees are not “influenced in the performance of public duties by the thought of later reaping a benefit from a private individual.” Brown v. District of Columbia Board of Zoning, 41A.2d 1276, 1282 (D.C. App. 1980); and,
WHEREAS, full transparency of all political money is necessary for the growth of an educated and informed electorate; and,
WHEREAS, with nearly $6 billion spent in the 2012 elections, where the vast majority came from big special interest donors, politicians are dependent on a tiny percentage of the population to fund raise their campaigns while ordinary voters have less and less influence; and,
WHEREAS, federal agencies such as the Federal Election Commission routinely fail to enforce the anti-‐corruption rules that already exist;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the undersigned organization agrees that tough, new anti-corruption laws must be passed by Congress, including legislation to prohibit politicians from taking campaign money from industries they regulate; put limits on unregulated SuperPACs and other groups; increase transparency for campaign funding; stop elected representatives and senior staff from negotiating jobs while in office and bar them from all lobbying activity for five years once they leave; empower all voters through a $100 tax rebate to contribute to the candidates they support; and strengthen federal agencies and House and Senate ethics committees to enforce the rules against politicians and special interests that break campaign finance law.
for organizational representatives and community leaders:
Sign the resolution here or download, print, and mail in your signed resolution.
If you are an Elected Official, sign the resolution here or download, print, and mail in your signed resolution from below.
If you are an Elected Official, sign the resolution here or download, print, and mail in your signed resolution from below.
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For Citizens:
Click here to become a citizen co-sponsor of The American Anti Corruption Act and Represent Maryland's Resolution to end corruption.