Joe Cunningham Releases Bold Ethics Reform Package to Fight Corruption and Drain the Swamp in Washington

Joe Cunningham Releases Bold Ethics Reform Package to Fight Corruption and Drain the Swamp in Washington

Cunningham pushes ethics reform plan as indictments rain down in DC and Columbia

Charleston, SC – Democratic Congressional candidate Joe Cunningham (SC-1) released a bold ethics reform package on Tuesday in response to the numerous political indictments in South Carolina and Washington, D.C. in recent weeks.

Cunningham’s plan focuses on curbing the influence of dark money in politics and implementing bold campaign and voting reforms to increase transparency and voter participation.

“Our political system is fundamentally broken right now,” said Joe Cunningham. “And it’s because politicians in Columbia and Washington D.C. have created a corrupt system that works for them and no one else. There are more indictments coming out of Columbia and Washington these days than actual solutions. People are sick and tired of career politicians and their cronies abusing the public trust and padding their own pockets in the process. It’s time to elect honest and ethical leaders who will care more about doing their job than keeping their job.”

Joe Cunningham’s Plan to Fight Corruption and Drain the Swamp:

1. Term Limits for All Members of Congress
Get rid of career politicians. It’s time to implement real term limits on Congress. (Three terms for House, Two terms for Senate.)

2. Ban PAC Contributions
In order to weaken the overwhelming political power of special interests, we should ban federal candidates from accepting PAC contributions.

3. End Gerrymandering
Create independent commissions to draw district lines in each state so voters can pick their politicians, instead of politicians picking their voters.

4. Automatic Voter Registration
Corruption feeds off of apathy. In order to simplify and incentivize voter participation and hold politicians accountable, the United States should switch to an automatic voter registration system where voters, upon their 18th birthday, must “opt-out” of being registered to vote instead of opting in.

5. Pass the DISCLOSE Act 
Passing the DISCLOSE Act would close loopholes that have allowed dark money to flood our elections by requiring corporations and special interests who hide behind Super PACs and spend more than $10,000 to file a disclosure with the FEC and list the names of donors and amounts given of $10,000 or more to the group.

6. Close the Revolving Door
Increase the wait period for former members of Congress to become lobbyists from one year to five years.

7. Real-time Campaign Account Monitoring
All members of congress and candidates must use a central bank for their campaign accounts which will allow the public to view deposits and expenditures in real-time. Interest gained from campaign accounts will pay for increased funding for the Office on Congressional Ethics.

8. One person, One pension
Ban politicians from double dipping and receiving multiple pensions at one time for separate political offices.

9. Ban Roll-Over Campaign Dollars
Require all federal campaigns to zero out their campaign account after each election cycle. If candidate is unopposed, contributions must be returned to donors or given to charity.

10. Ban Fundraising while Congress is in Session
Members of Congress should be working for their constituents when they’re in Washington, D.C. Too much of their time is spent fundraising for the next election. Instead of holding and attending fancy DC fundraising cocktail parties every night with lobbyists and special interests, members of Congress should be focused on reading legislation and working with their colleagues to deliver results for the people they represent.

www.JoeCunninghamForCongress.com

# # #