Bernie Sanders has a new campaign finance reform plan ...

[Donkees]

Link to tweet

The full campaign finance reform plan, which is being rolled out less than a week after Sanders announced his massive third quarter fundraising haul of $25.3 million dollars that surpassed the rest of the field, centers around the idea that corporate money and influence only adds corruption to the political system. In the news of their fundraising haul, the campaign also released that their average donation during the third quarter was $18.07, and the individuals who donated the most to the campaign listed their occupation as "teachers." Sanders enters the 4th quarter of 2019 with $33.7 million cash on hand a figure that will likely be the most of any Democratic candidate.

Looking to replicate his success with small dollar donations through this five-pronged plan, Sanders is calling to aggressively reform national party conventions, presidential inaugurations, public elections, presidential primary debates, and Congress, specifically targeting how the Democratic party raises money and how corporations and lobbyists influence individual campaigns.

In addition to ending corporate contributions to the Democratic Party Convention, Sanders is also calling for the end of corporate donations to the Democratic National Committee, and inaugural events and capping all individual donations to inaugurations to $500.

Sanders also wants to make federal elections publicly funded, abolish the Federal Election Commission and replace it with a Federal Election Administration with its own governing body. He also is calling for a Constitutional amendment designed to overturn Supreme Court cases like the Citizens United decision, and pass legislation to end super PACs. Sanders would also install a Universal Small Dollar Voucher system which would "give any voting-age American the ability to "donate" to federal candidates."

Finally, the plan calls for a ban on advertising during presidential primary debates, and institute a lifelong lobbying ban for former members of Congress.

[Donkees]

1. New this morning, a campaign finance reform plan. Details here:

Link to tweet

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread Donkees.

[Donkees]

3. His plan to end the influence of major businesses goes further than that of other 2020 candidates.

Link to tweet

[Donkees]

4. 'Money is not speech. Corporations are not people. '

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[corbettkroehler]

5. Cut To The Chase

The other issues mentioned in this thread are important. However, following the weeds all the way down to the roots, we have the erroneous so-called Supreme Court precedent that money equals speech.

[Billsmile]

6. It Can Be Done

The Sixteenth Amendment, for example, nullified a Supreme Court ruling.

[Billsmile]

7. From Bernie's Webpage

As president, Bernie will fight to:

Pass a Constitutional Amendment that makes clear that money is not speech and corporations are not people. By doing so, we will:

Overturn the Supreme Court ruling that says money is speech: Buckley v. Valeo.

Pass legislation to end super PACs, political spending by 501c4s and other organizations who accept unlimited contributions or do not disclose donors.

Overturn Citizens United, which allows corporations to spend unlimited money on elections.