Public Campaign

Donate Now
Follow us On:
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Home
  • Fair Facts
  • Get Involved
  • Voter Blog
  • Press Room
  • About Us

It's not a few rotten apples--it's the whole damn barrel

Submitted by Monica Rober on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 20:00

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) has a made a deal into the ethics committee investigation into several ethics violations made against him. Today on Huffington Post, Public Campaign President Nick Nyhart writes that the problem isn't specific members like Rangel--it's our whole pay-to--play system.

But to say that Rangel is the only one mixed up in the unsavory combination of cash, influence and policy-making would be disingenuous. Just today we saw reports of Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) steering $250 million in earmarks to former staffers and campaign contributors. Speaker-wannabe Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) is selling private access to his office to those able to bundle $100,000. The PMA lobbying scandal is still unfolding. And just a few weeks ago, we learned that the Office of Congressional Ethics is looking into possible quid-pro-quos in the votes and political fundraisers of a handful of key lawmakers during the financial reform debate.

It's not about Republicans or Democrats or just some random members. It's not a few bad apples--it's the whole damn barrel that's rotten.

He's right--we need to change the system by passing the Fair Elections Now Act.

Recent Blog Posts

Rep. Chellie Pingree: Recovering Democracy After Citizens United
February 9, 2012
In an op-ed today, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) speaks out against the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision and advocates for the Fair Elections Now Act.Rep. Pingree, an original co-...

Clips Round-up 2/9/12
February 9, 2012
Hey, have you signed the petition on the White House website urging President Obama to appoint new FEC commissioners? We need about 1,500 more (by tomorrow!) to reach the 25,000 goal. Please help!...

PRESS RELEASE: Obama Must Provide Muscular Plan to Save Our Ailing Democracy
February 7, 2012
In a press release this morning, Public Campaign Action Fund argued that President Obama’s decision to green-light super PAC money in support of his re-election means that talk is no longer enough...

Clips Round-up for 2/7/12
February 7, 2012
Story of the day from the NYT: Obama yields in marshaling of "super PAC" "President Obama is signaling to wealthy Democratic donors that he wants them to start contributing to an outside group...

View All Blog Posts
  • Privacy Policy

Public Campaign

1133 19th Street, NW 9th Floor Washington, DC 20036
  • info@publicampaign.org
  • 202.640.5600
  • 202.640.5601