by Elizabeth M Young

Created on: November 04, 2009

Any campaign finance reform would have to be comprehensive enough to eliminate the slightest hint of conflict of interest as our elected senators and representatives carry out their sworn duties. The prohibitions against conflict of interest for a corporate board of directors are more stringent than they are for the elected government of the most powerful nation in the world, and it is time for serious, comprehensive, and sweeping reform.

Conflict of interest begins with serving on both sides in a deal. There is no way that senators and representatives should be allowed to vote on a measure as representatives of both the people who vote for them, and as representatives of the benefactors who financed their campaigns, past and future. In addition, the door to employment with campaign benefactors should be sealed for a significant period of time after the elected official leaves office. Five years should be about right.

Conflict of interest is indicated time and time again, when representatives and senators vote against the interests and the clearly identified mandates of the majority of their constituents, and in favor of private interests which finance vacations, trips, meals, and all forms of elaborate gifts in addition to campaign contributions and jobs.

Such representatives and senators should be prohibited on voting on any legislation that enhances the fortunes of documented private benefactors who have been campaign contributors, giving gifts, meeting secretly, contributing to campaigns, or utilizing the services of lobbying professionals to influence voting.

All meetings between elected officials and lobbyists or representatives of corporate, for profit, and other interests than their constituents, should be documented, and there should be transcripts or summaries of the meetings. The details of such activity should no longer be withheld or concealed from the public view or review. Public view and review would reduce the ability of lobbyists and non constituents to go beyond campaign financing in influencing our legislative decision making process.

Conflict of interest is inherent in the coordination of efforts by well financed private interests who purchase advertising which attacks a candidate or political party platform. The responding candidates and parties must then divert funds from normal campaign advertising in order to deal with the attacks. The well financed private interests include organizations that spring up to engage in political campaign strategy

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