Ethics
“Politics isn’t about big money or power games; it’s about the improvement of people’s lives.” – Senator Paul Wellstone
Today many people have lost their faith in politics. They see the pervasive and corrupting influence of money, politicians who care more about Washington special interests and lobbyists than about the people they represent, and leaders who don’t live up to basic moral standards. We’re left with a system that favors party insiders and special interests, and lets them choose our candidate for us. That’s got to change: the people of this District send their representative to Washington, Washington doesn’t send its representative to us.
But it’s more than saying we need to change Washington. We need to elect representatives who offer a plan for reform, who return the “service” to public service, who show they want government to work for the people through their actions, not just their words. That’s why I’ve offered a comprehensive plan to restore ethics, accountability, and fairness to the political process, one that creates a level playing field by supporting candidates and elected officials who put the public interest first.
- Support Clean, Fair Elections. I’m the only candidate in the race to sign the Voters First Pledge to support legislation to create a system of public financing for qualified candidates who agree to strict spending limits and to take only small donations. I have also called on my Democratic primary opponents to join me in promising to spend no more than $750,000 on the primary campaign, which they have so far refused to do, in order to reduce the incentive for candidates to pay more attention to special interests than the people of this district.
- No Influence from Special Interests. Promises to change the political system ring hollow when candidates are funded by the very same interest groups they claim they will oppose once elected. That’s why I’ve spent my time raising money from the people of this District, the most of any candidate in the primary. These are the people I am beholden to and these are the people I will go to Washington to represent.
- Protecting People’s Ability to Vote. I will work to ensure that it is easier for Americans to vote in federal elections, putting power back in the hands of the people. I will fight for same day registration in federal elections, support efforts to make Election Day a federal holiday, and work to expand voting options to include voting by mail, early in-person voting, and no-excuse absentee voting.
- Transparent and Accountable Government. Too much of what happens in Washington is inaccessible to ordinary Americans. Voters deserve to know what their representatives are doing for them in Congress. By harnessing the power of the Internet, we can increase the information citizens can readily and easily access. I will support legislation to provide Americans with greater access to information about how people vote on bills, what actions are taking place in committees, and the content of non-emergency bills before they are voted on.
In addition, my plan outlines my positions on transparency in candidate funding, preventing soft money swiftboating, limiting excessive Executive secrecy, protecting whistleblowers, and ensuring robust enforcement of ethical rules.
Read Alice's full plan: Putting People First: Restoring Our Faith in the Political Process
