WHEN can we expect to have election reform to prohibit corporations from influincing our laws.

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August 23, 2010
Election laws in need of reform

by Gordon Southern Local Columnist Pharos-Tribune Mon Aug 23, 2010, 01:42 PM EDT

LOGANSPORT — People today think our government and the people running it are for sale. The scary part is they may be partially correct. It takes millions of dollars to get elected to federal office and nearly as much for many state offices. Unless a candidate has very deep pockets that money must come from somewhere.

It is where that money comes from that makes us think our representatives in government are selling us out. It comes from the rich, businesses and unions all with an agenda to promote. Now, how a man spends his money is his own business, unless it affects others in a negative manner.

As a good friend once told me about running for politics “if a man puts a hand in your pocket with money, he expects to pull it out with favors.” This is where the concern really arises. If a man gives me $20 million to run for office, is he really doing it for the good of the country?

The Supreme Court unleashed a tiger on this concern with the removal of limits on spending to promote a candidate. We already see our representatives in government being wined, dined and kissed by endless lobby groups. It seems like the only ones they don’t respond to are us.

We don’t have the money to make ourselves important, so we are often ignored. We don’t need to provide opportunities for this type of behavior to increase. We need to be as important as the lobbyists with his/her hand out with goodies. Congress needs to take action. Reform of how election campaigns operate in the United States is a topic of discussion nearly every year. It is discussed and cussed for months, but then nothing happens. No action takes place because our representatives are the ones setting the rules for themselves.

With nearly all federal elected officials millionaires, or soon to be, they don’t want to change the system. Not all federal elected officials are rich, just most. Our congressman, Joe Donnelly, is an exception. He is one of the poorer members of Congress. Actually, I think the last time I checked he had a negative net worth because he had a mortgage. Here is what we need to have happen in my humble opinion:

1. President Obama needs to push for the Congress to not only consider but pass a real campaign reform act. He needs to make this as big a priority as he did health care. This campaign reform act should ban all spending on national campaigns. It should limit campaigns to 30 days or less. Each candidate should be given the same amount of time on TV, radio and newspaper as a public service. That should be the limit of campaigning. This would give candidates equal opportunity to discuss their views without being held hostage by whoever provides the money. This would allow a wide variety of candidates to become part of the process. Thus, many more ideas would be represented.

2. Members of Congress do not truly represent our communities. Congressmen mostly represent a district put together by a political trust with the goal of making sure their party always wins the election and big spenders around the country. Gerrymandering has each district into a shape where it votes according to what the designers want. Congress badly needs to pass a law defining how congressional districts in each state will be assembled. Currently most districts reflect some bias toward one party or group. Districts should be based on close proximity, not cutting county lines, and not reflect anything about the type, color or preferences of the individuals living there. The goal should be true and equal representation for everyone.

3. Congress should impose on itself the same term limitations it places on the executive branch. A president may serve only two terms. The same should be true of congressmen and senators. Some senators have actually been serving since the 1950s. Let’s keep new blood, with new ideas, going to Washington. Along with this, the terms of congressmen should be extended to four years instead of the current two. This would eliminate the need for elections every second year.

4. Congress should include severe punishments for anyone convicted of taking money other than what they earn from their salary during their terms. The person or group offering the money should be equally punished. This would totally eliminate a large avenue of money flowing to the candidates as gifts or for speeches and many other things.

5. States, such as Indiana, should do the same. Strict campaign laws, term limitations, honest districts and no lobbying. Gov, Mitch Daniels claims he wants fair and honest elections. If he really does, perhaps he will take the lead in making changes.

• Gordon Southern is a columnist for the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached through the newspaper at ptnews@pharostribune.com.