I believe this is an obvious identification of conflict of interests.
In American government, corruption thrives through secrecy.
People and corporations shouldn't be allowed to make behind-the-scenes contributions to sway elections while at the same time applying for contracts with the federal government. It is a corrupt loophole that too many lawmakers and corporations want to keep open.
That's why members of Progressives United have made thousands of calls to President Obama supporting an executive order to bring political contributions by companies with federal contracts into the light -- and it's gaining steam.
But not surprisingly, corporate interests in Congress want to keep this process in the dark. Sadly, but predictably, it's not just Republicans. Some Democrats are joining Republicans in pressing to keep the cycle of political money and federal contracts hidden.
Incredibly, they're claiming that transparency will somehow lead to more corruption. I spent nearly two decades in the Senate, and I can tell you: that's just baloney.
This culture of corporate influence and corruption is precisely what we as Progressives United want to change. So we've decided to take on those legislators who are unwilling to stand up to corporate power, and we're naming names.
Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-CT; Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-MO; Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-KY; Sen. Rob Portman, R-OH; Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-MD; and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-CA.
These are some of the legislators claiming that if contractors are forced to disclose their political contributions, contracts will start going to the highest contributor.
Here's why that's baloney: Legislators already know who's greasing their palms.
The contractors know where their contributions are going.
The only party who doesn't know where the money is going is us, the public.
If we make contributions public, we can hold legislators and contractors accountable. We can shine the bright light of transparency on the whole practice of awarding government contracts, so the American people can truly see what is going on.
Let's start by holding the defenders of corruption accountable to their constituents right now.
It's the people's money -- our money -- that the federal government uses to pay these contractors. So you and I have a right to know who these contractors and their lobbyists are trying to elect with our money -- and if they're getting more contracts in exchange.
This is a big opportunity to take action, and we need to seize it.
Thank you for uniting as a Progressive,
Russ Feingold
Founder
Progressives United
I have said for a long time we need a federal database. As soon as you become a candidate for House, Senate, or President you go in it. Every dime you are given that is not part of your salary goes in it along with who gave it to you and when. As soon as you are in office this gets linked up to the congressional record. Imagine if anyone with internet access (approx. 80% of the country or more) could go to a website, type in where they live and get a list with their representative and their senator. On the list would be the bills they voted on or proposed, how they voted, and when they voted. Also would be who took them to Hawaii for golf or made a large campaign donation and when they did this. People can put 2 and 2 together and everyone would know who is being paid to vote a certain way. And when people started seeing things like a yes vote for ethanol subsidies 2 days after Archer-Daniels made a campaign donation they would know what is going on. The biggest problem with this is it would take a good bit of equipment, some very good database people, some web designers, and access to the needed data. The very people you are trying to watch are the ones who have to vote on the funding for it and give you access to all the data.
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