Since the Citizens United decision, there has been a tremendous rise in outside money in American politics.
Untraceable spending breeds corruption that allows front groups, shell corporations, and even foreign governments to secretly buy influence over our elected officials.
Candidates in both parties are benefiting from the record-breaking secret spending.
It’s a bi-partisan problem that needs a non-partisan solution.
During the 2012 Massachusetts Senate race Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown agreed that if any outside group spent on their behalf that they would give a match to charity out of their own funds.
It worked. Outside spending was drastically reduced to merely 9% of total spending in contrast to upwards of 60% in other states.
CounterPAC’s mission is to get as many candidates as possible to agree to a similar pledge rejecting untraceable dark money.
Democrats and Republicans don’t agree on much, but leaders, and voters, in both parties want an end to untraceable secret spending in elections.
CounterPAC’s Role:
1. Promoter, CounterPAC will make candidates take a stand on the pledge using outreach ads and social media.
2. Moderator, CounterPAC will act as a monitor of untraceable spending and a moderator between the candidates.
3. Enforcer, CounterPAC will highlight any pledge violations through significant advertising and public outreach campaigns.
The Pledge:
The Candidates reject the following expenditures by any entity unless the funding source of the expenditure is clearly disclosed and can be traced back entirely to one or more of the following "transparent sources".
- An individual.
- A well known corporation with revenue from trade or commerce of at least $50 million for each of the past five years.
- A nonprofit that has more than one million members, has been in existence for more than 10 years, has members in all 50 states and raises 15 percent or less of its funds from corporations.
- An entity registered and filing reports as a “political committee” with the Federal Election Commission that has not accepted more than $10,000 from a corporation or nonprofit failing to meet the criteria described above.
CLICK HERE for more information about CounterPAC.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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