to put a stop to it.
Our party has been working for a long time on democracy reform, the term they use. Their plans were derailed in 2016, but green-lighted for action in the house (and more state governments) by the midterms. 'Common Cause 02/2016: "Democracy reform is becoming the defining issue of the 2016 race"' Not quite as it turns out. Brennan Center today: "Voters Are Hungry for Democracy Reform."
That term, "democracy reform" is OURS. Our house leaders are currently setting up a democracy reform task force, lead by Congressman John Sarbanes. A huge package of reform bills addressing several major categories, named H.R. 1, will be introduced soon after swearing in in January.
From Fox News, and what's it mean that it's not slamming it to their viewers?
The new Dem House majority plans ‘democracy reform’ vote right out the gate
Call it the House Democratic version of draining the swamp. When Democrats in the House of Representatives assume the majority in January, they plan to introduce a sweeping “democracy reform” bill made up of a hodgepodge of past proposals that went nowhere under Republican control.
The package includes authorizing large-scale government-funded political campaigns, mandating automatic voter registration and altering the Constitution to scrap one of the left’s least favorite Supreme Court rulings.
“On the first day of the new Congress, Democrats will introduce a bold and sweeping democracy reform package that will end the dominance of big money in our politics, ensure that public servants behave in Washington and make it easier, not harder, to vote,” Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., told Fox News. “Democratic leadership is committed to advancing this reform package right out of the gate in the new Congress.” Democrats are calling the bill H.R. 1, which means it’s the first House resolution of the new Congress.
In his statement, Sarbanes seemed to acknowledge the package is more about sending a message, as it's unlikely to become law under a Republican-controlled Senate and White House. “Passing this reform agenda in the House will send a powerful message to the public that Democrats will lift up the voices of hardworking Americans and put them back in charge of our democracy,” Sarbanes said.
One proposal that could be wrapped into H.R. 1 is the Disclose Act, which requires all organizations that spend money on elections to disclose their donors. House Democrats also plan to include in the bill the Automatic Voter Registration Act. Sarbanes previously sponsored the Government by the People Act, which has 160 House Democratic co-sponsors. The bill would establish a Freedom from Influence Fund to match to provide $6 in federal money for every $1 in small donations (of no more than $150) a candidate raises. The Sarbanes proposal also would establish a $25 “My Voice Tax Credit,” allowing citizens to write off campaign donations.
Half of the newly elected House Democrats refused to accept corporate PAC money, according to End Citizens United, itself a political action committee that spent $8 million to elect Democrats to Congress, The Washington Post reported.
Even if the sweeping reforms legislation isn’t enacted in the next two years, Democrats can put this on the public agenda as a campaign issue for 2020 and potentially as a model for states to adopt, said David Keating, president Institute for Free Speech, which opposes restrictions on campaign spending.
Yes, Mr. Keating, and there will be some things we can get passed before then. How do you like the idea of taxpayer funded campaigns? Eat it.
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