Kucinich Announces ‘Game Changing’ Constitutional Amendment to Publicly Finance Federal Elections

[Bonobo]

Take money out of politics!? Why how could ANYONE have ever thought of THAT??

http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=275443

On the eve of the second anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling known as Citizens United, which opened the floodgate of unlimited, shadowy corporate spending in public elections, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) has introduced H. J. Res. 100, a constitutional amendment to rescue American democracy from corporate money’s corrupting influence.

H.J. Res.100 would require that all federal campaigns –all campaigns for President, Vice-President, Senator and Representative – be financed exclusively with public funds and prohibit any expenditures from any other source, including the candidate. H. J. Res. 100 would also prohibit any expenditures in support of, or in opposition to, any federal candidate, so that interest groups will not be able to influence elections. It will maintain the First Amendment “freedom of the press” and preserve the traditional role that the media have played in our electoral process.

“We must rescue American democracy from unlimited corporate money. This is the most fundamental issue facing the future of our nation. With corporate, private financing we have officials working for the interest of corporations. With public financing we have officials working for the public. And public financing will actually save taxpayers’ money, by eliminating any incentive of public officials to reward campaign contributors with taxpayer subsidies.

“We must eliminate the influence of money on our elections and on our policy-making. We must eliminate the influence of special interests on our elections and on our legislation. We must eliminate the influence of multi-national corporations and foreign corporations on the government of our country. We cannot wait. We must fight for government of the people, by the people, for the people,” said Kucinich.

[MadHound]

1. Publicly financed elections are the only way to return this country to the people

The trouble is that this will probably get nowhere, and in order to insure that it goes nowhere, some pundit somewhere will try and make a kook out of Kucinich, again. Can't let the elite have their hand taken out of the government's ass.

[PhoenixAbove]

2. This is a very good idea...

but I also think it won't get any traction. Very disheartening.

[Ecumenist]

3. Why won't it, PhoenixAbove?

[PhoenixAbove]

5. To be honest...

I just don't know. It's just a ridiculous gut feeling I have. I hope I am very wrong.

I wanted to vote for Kucinch in the last presidential election but he didn't even make it to the ballot in my state. He seems like a lone voice trying to howl against hurricane Katrina.

[sabrina 1]

4. I don't think he's the only one promoting this though.

Isn't Bernie Sanders trying to do something also?

[Bonobo]

6. Yes, many people that we will not see on TV do.

I wish Rachel would maybe not make cocktails one night, and instead spend a few minutes with a real Progressive like Bernie Sanders.

I guess wasting time having "fun" with politics is more important than discussing serious things.