As our country becomes more diverse, so must our government. But money, or rather the lack of money, continues to prevent people of all social and economic backgrounds from voting, running for office, or donating money.
The financial burden of political campaigns may deter candidates They don’t have the money or the necessary contacts. Even those who won the election, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who was a former bartender, and Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-Fla.), who is only 26, said they had to spend your savings or reach your credit card limit to be able to campaign.
Therefore, we welcome the great news that Federal Election Commission Considers Updating Outdated Rules how and when campaign funds can be used to pay wages. Under current rules, electoral candidates may be paid no more than what they earned during the previous year, as long as this does not exceed the salary of the position for which they are running. This condition discourages those who had low wages or cared for their families full-time.
Potential rule changes could allow them to pay themselves a salary they can live on and fund a campaign. They can also use their campaign funds to cover basic expenses such as childcare, which is currently only allowed with special permission from the Commission.
However, an even bigger hurdle for many candidates, even those already elected, comes when they have to raise money for their campaigns, especially after the 2010 Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case that overturned campaign finance restrictions.
Since that ruling, contributions from major donors—corporations, millionaires, and special interest groups—grew exponentially.
The Brennan Center revealed that during the 2022 midterm elections, only the top 100 donors contributed far more to political campaigns for federal office than the 3.7 million small donors.
In 2020, New York State passed the best response we’ve seen on this issue since Citizens United’s decision: a political campaign finance law that allows every eligible candidate who solicits small donations from their communities to receive public funds which multiply these contributions.
By multiplying the smallest donations by the largest, New York’s program serves as a model for other states seeking to give the electorate more representation in politics and government. At least 15 states and 21 municipalities across the country, including New York and Los Angeles, also have laws that provide public funds to empower small donors.
But constant vigilance is required to make sure laws are enforced and programs are well funded. New York City’s public funding program is already under threat as the state legislature has indicated it plans to delay its implementation despite widespread statewide support for the program. New York political leaders must commit $39.5 million in the next state’s budget to keep the program going.
Our goal in New York and across the country must be to create representative government that reflects and responds to the diversity of the population it serves.
Source: La Opinion
David Ortiz is an opinionated and well-versed author, known for his thought-provoking and persuasive writing on various matters. He currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker, where he shares his insight and perspective on today’s most pressing issues. David’s unique voice and writing style make his articles a must-read for those seeking a different point of view.