The role of money in politics isn’t the boon for politicians that one might expect, says Jennifer Granholm. Time spent fundraising is time not spent serving constituents, and it wears on officeholders. Many politicians enter the field with “high-minded notions of changing the world” and raising the money to serve becomes an extra job. Granholm says that fundraising pressures have only increased since Citizens United and that the pressure to raise money is just one reason we should reform campaign finance — to get our legislators legislating again, instead of making calls and shaking hands. “This isn’t a partisan issue,” Granholm insists. “This is a national crisis.”
