Jim Sykes
2006-02-01 08:22:18 UTC
Anchorage Greens move to get Big Money out of Politics
Text of Press Release:
PRESS RELEASE February 1, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GREENS ASK AK DELEGATION TO HELP GET BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
Press Conference, Anchorage Loussac Library Assembly Lobby 11:00 a.m.
Contact: Jim Sykes 745-6962, cell 575-3396
Anchorage Greens unanimously agreed to ask Alaska's Members of Congress to support for fundamental campaign finance reform changes, and lobbying reforms, to get the big money out of politics. Elections Advisor Jim Sykes said, "People now sitting in Congress got there through the big money process. Now that scandal has erupted around lobbyists and their money, it may be a rare opportunity for Congress to get big money out of the process and return democracy back to the people."
In a letter to Alaska's two Senators and Congressman, Greens put forth four major concepts for changing campaign financing.
1.. Raise money only from inside Alaska, like our current state law.
2.. Allow contributions only from individuals, no groups or artificial entities.
3.. Provide for public financing of campaigns similar to Maine, Massachusettes and Arizona.
4. Require broadcasters to provide a minimum of 10 hours of free and equal airtime devoted to each federal office and all qualified candidates three months before a general election.
Sykes added, "Out of six bills now before congress restricting lobbyist activities, most hardly touch the problem." Lobbyist activities should be restricted and Anchorage Greens put forth 20 concepts.
President Bush spoke about eliminating Congressional "earmarks" during his State of the Union address. Members of Congress expressed no enthusiasm for the idea, but a the Greens put forth the idea that all appropriations bills should be published and publicly available for at least 48 hours before a vote, so that everyone can see what is in the bill. Another suggestion is to require a 3/4ths vote to approve earmarks, so that only emergency needs would be likely to be approved.
In recent federal races the amount of Outside money has greatly exceeded in-state funds. Sykes said, "It looks like some members of Congress have closer relationships with lobbyists and fundraisers than their own constituents." In the 2004 Congressional race Don Young raised 85% of his funds from out-of-state according to www.opensecrets.org. Greens invite all Alaskans to contact our Alaska delegation to encourage them to get the big money out of Alaska politics.
LETTER TO DELEGATION Text:
Dear Senator Stevens,
This letter is a request for your help to clean up the lobbying scandals and the undue influence of money in campaigns. The scandals may be the best opportunity to return our democracy to the people instead of those special interests that bankroll campaigns and lobbyists.
While there have been a number of proposals to tighten lobbying regulations, the main problem continues to fester-campaign contributions from lobbyists, political action committees and those from outside the district represented by the Member of Congress. None of the six bills currently pending before Congress will make a significant difference. Campaign finance reform needs to be the priority. Lobbying restrictions and improvements to the congressional process also need to be implemented.
Anchorage Greens met on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 and unanimously agreed to ask your support for fundamental campaign finance reform changes and lobbying reforms to get the big money out of Alaska politics, along with the rest of the nation. Please reply about how best the suggestions listed below can be implemented and if you have some additional ideas or suggestions.
Campaign Finance Reform
1. Eliminate all funding sources from outside the district the Member of Congress represents. Contributions would be limited to qualified Alaska voters in our case.
2. Disallow all contributions except those from individuals--No Political Action Committees, 501 (c) (4)'s or other artificial entity would be allowed to contribute.
3. Provide for public financing of campaigns based on contributions from the federal government for federal races and required petition signatures with contributions up to $5.00 per person similar to existing systems in Maine, Massachusetts and Arizona. Candidates electing to raise funds outside the public funding system would not have access to matching funds under the public system.
4. Provide for mandatory and equal free public service air-time for all qualified candidates. For federal candidates, a minimum of 10 hours per federal office would be provided during the three months prior to the general election.
Lobbying Reform Changes
[Derived from comparison of existing legislative proposals analyzed by Public Citizen]
a.. Prohibit campaign contributions from or arranged by lobbyists.
b.. Prohibit lobbyists from organizing fundraising events, serving on fundraising committees, or from bundling campaign contributions with others.
c.. Prohibit trips sponsored by lobbyists or private parties.
d.. Prohibit lobbyists from paying for, organizing or participating in trips.
e.. Prohibit corporate jets to transport members. Require detailed disclosure of trips, and limit expenses to per diem.
f.. Prohibit lobbyists from giving gifts to members, the immediate family of members or staff.
g.. Extend one-year "cooling-off period" during which an individual cannot lobby from one to two years.
h.. Two-year "cooling-off period would also disallow any paid lobbying activity such as supervising others and developing lobbying strategy.
i.. Required disclosure when seeking private employment.
j.. Prohibit special congressional privileges to members who become lobbyists (such as access to the floor or gym, etc.)
k.. Restrict members from influencing employment decision of lobbying firms based on partisanship.
l.. Disclose all lobbying contacts, file electronic public reports quarterly on web.
m.. Disclose stealth lobbying coalitions of any lobbying group exceeding $10,000 in expenditures.
n.. Disclose grassroots lobbying that is paid.
o.. Disclose lobbyists previous federal employment.
p.. Disclose travel and gifts received by members of Congress on their web sites.
q.. Centralize disclosure of all lobbying travel and ethics records.
r.. Forfeit congressional pension of convicted of a felony.
s.. Increase penalties for violations of lobbying disclosure laws.
t.. Create an agency with independent authority for monitoring and enforcing compliance with subpoena power.
Congressional Process
1.. Require conference bills to be in print and available to the public 48 hours before a vote can take place.
2.. Eliminate earmarks in appropriations bills unless there is a vote on a specific earmark approved by 3/4ths of the members of both houses.
Please reply within the next two weeks as to how you can best implement these recommendations, or have some better ideas. Thank you.
On behalf of Anchorage Greens,
Jim Sykes, Elections Advisor
Text of Press Release:
PRESS RELEASE February 1, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GREENS ASK AK DELEGATION TO HELP GET BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
Press Conference, Anchorage Loussac Library Assembly Lobby 11:00 a.m.
Contact: Jim Sykes 745-6962, cell 575-3396
Anchorage Greens unanimously agreed to ask Alaska's Members of Congress to support for fundamental campaign finance reform changes, and lobbying reforms, to get the big money out of politics. Elections Advisor Jim Sykes said, "People now sitting in Congress got there through the big money process. Now that scandal has erupted around lobbyists and their money, it may be a rare opportunity for Congress to get big money out of the process and return democracy back to the people."
In a letter to Alaska's two Senators and Congressman, Greens put forth four major concepts for changing campaign financing.
1.. Raise money only from inside Alaska, like our current state law.
2.. Allow contributions only from individuals, no groups or artificial entities.
3.. Provide for public financing of campaigns similar to Maine, Massachusettes and Arizona.
4. Require broadcasters to provide a minimum of 10 hours of free and equal airtime devoted to each federal office and all qualified candidates three months before a general election.
Sykes added, "Out of six bills now before congress restricting lobbyist activities, most hardly touch the problem." Lobbyist activities should be restricted and Anchorage Greens put forth 20 concepts.
President Bush spoke about eliminating Congressional "earmarks" during his State of the Union address. Members of Congress expressed no enthusiasm for the idea, but a the Greens put forth the idea that all appropriations bills should be published and publicly available for at least 48 hours before a vote, so that everyone can see what is in the bill. Another suggestion is to require a 3/4ths vote to approve earmarks, so that only emergency needs would be likely to be approved.
In recent federal races the amount of Outside money has greatly exceeded in-state funds. Sykes said, "It looks like some members of Congress have closer relationships with lobbyists and fundraisers than their own constituents." In the 2004 Congressional race Don Young raised 85% of his funds from out-of-state according to www.opensecrets.org. Greens invite all Alaskans to contact our Alaska delegation to encourage them to get the big money out of Alaska politics.
LETTER TO DELEGATION Text:
Dear Senator Stevens,
This letter is a request for your help to clean up the lobbying scandals and the undue influence of money in campaigns. The scandals may be the best opportunity to return our democracy to the people instead of those special interests that bankroll campaigns and lobbyists.
While there have been a number of proposals to tighten lobbying regulations, the main problem continues to fester-campaign contributions from lobbyists, political action committees and those from outside the district represented by the Member of Congress. None of the six bills currently pending before Congress will make a significant difference. Campaign finance reform needs to be the priority. Lobbying restrictions and improvements to the congressional process also need to be implemented.
Anchorage Greens met on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 and unanimously agreed to ask your support for fundamental campaign finance reform changes and lobbying reforms to get the big money out of Alaska politics, along with the rest of the nation. Please reply about how best the suggestions listed below can be implemented and if you have some additional ideas or suggestions.
Campaign Finance Reform
1. Eliminate all funding sources from outside the district the Member of Congress represents. Contributions would be limited to qualified Alaska voters in our case.
2. Disallow all contributions except those from individuals--No Political Action Committees, 501 (c) (4)'s or other artificial entity would be allowed to contribute.
3. Provide for public financing of campaigns based on contributions from the federal government for federal races and required petition signatures with contributions up to $5.00 per person similar to existing systems in Maine, Massachusetts and Arizona. Candidates electing to raise funds outside the public funding system would not have access to matching funds under the public system.
4. Provide for mandatory and equal free public service air-time for all qualified candidates. For federal candidates, a minimum of 10 hours per federal office would be provided during the three months prior to the general election.
Lobbying Reform Changes
[Derived from comparison of existing legislative proposals analyzed by Public Citizen]
a.. Prohibit campaign contributions from or arranged by lobbyists.
b.. Prohibit lobbyists from organizing fundraising events, serving on fundraising committees, or from bundling campaign contributions with others.
c.. Prohibit trips sponsored by lobbyists or private parties.
d.. Prohibit lobbyists from paying for, organizing or participating in trips.
e.. Prohibit corporate jets to transport members. Require detailed disclosure of trips, and limit expenses to per diem.
f.. Prohibit lobbyists from giving gifts to members, the immediate family of members or staff.
g.. Extend one-year "cooling-off period" during which an individual cannot lobby from one to two years.
h.. Two-year "cooling-off period would also disallow any paid lobbying activity such as supervising others and developing lobbying strategy.
i.. Required disclosure when seeking private employment.
j.. Prohibit special congressional privileges to members who become lobbyists (such as access to the floor or gym, etc.)
k.. Restrict members from influencing employment decision of lobbying firms based on partisanship.
l.. Disclose all lobbying contacts, file electronic public reports quarterly on web.
m.. Disclose stealth lobbying coalitions of any lobbying group exceeding $10,000 in expenditures.
n.. Disclose grassroots lobbying that is paid.
o.. Disclose lobbyists previous federal employment.
p.. Disclose travel and gifts received by members of Congress on their web sites.
q.. Centralize disclosure of all lobbying travel and ethics records.
r.. Forfeit congressional pension of convicted of a felony.
s.. Increase penalties for violations of lobbying disclosure laws.
t.. Create an agency with independent authority for monitoring and enforcing compliance with subpoena power.
Congressional Process
1.. Require conference bills to be in print and available to the public 48 hours before a vote can take place.
2.. Eliminate earmarks in appropriations bills unless there is a vote on a specific earmark approved by 3/4ths of the members of both houses.
Please reply within the next two weeks as to how you can best implement these recommendations, or have some better ideas. Thank you.
On behalf of Anchorage Greens,
Jim Sykes, Elections Advisor