End Legalized Bribery

by Cecil Heftel, Seven Locks Press, 1998

Cecil Heftel, a five-term former Representative (D-HA), passionately believes Americans are now so deeply distrustful of their government and so disaffected they refuse to vote or get involved in the political process. He gives many examples of big money buying votes and pork barrel projects and does not conceal his disgust with campaign financing as it is currently practiced. Buying legislation would be considered a felony in other venues, but it is allowed and encouraged by the campaign process. The author believes that most members of Congress are honest and hard working, but they are caught up in a system of needing big money financing to be re-elected. He suggests a “Clean Money Option,” a prescription for change that would encourage members of Congress to listen to the electorate.

It is obvious that members of Congress have little reason to support such a plan: the electorate has not demanded it. It will draw stiff oppposition from big money interests and present members of Congress. The plan is a very simple one and would cost voters about $6.50 a year in taxes while eliminating pork, most corporate welfare and other travesties. And since mass immigration is a major form of corporate welfare in the form of cheap labor, reformers might get a fair hearing. Heftel's plan would open up the electoral process to qualified candidates who have not already obligated themselves to support certain legislation. Funding would be equalized and only small personal contributions would be allowed. Once the formal campaign begins, the candidates could no longer raise funds. Radio and television stations would be required to give free or reduced-cost prime time. Many broadcast media have forgotten their obligation to provide public interest programming as a condition of their licenses. They would hate to give up this advertising revenue, as would other big money interests, and would surely fight it with campaign contributions. (California attempts at reform are a prime example.) Questionable judicial decisions have been a serious problem, with the big monied interests being entitled to more free speech than the citizenry. There is hope: Vermont and Maine have listened to reformers.

Congress needs to know this is a critical issue for the voters. The author urges readers to become involved by contacting the author's site (www.publicampaign.org) or calling 1-888-293-5755 or joining with other reform organizations such as Common Cause. Citizens need to build strength locally. Those truly committed to immigration reform need to heed the advice of Cecil Heftel. He refused financing from big monied interests and was ostracized for suggesting reform in Congress. He is a successful businessman who invested his own money and bravely fought for meaningful reform during his tenure. His experiences in Congress led him to join former Senator Paul Simon, Director of the Public Policy Institute.

— by Carol Joyal