STOP CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND POLITICAL BRIBERY PROVISION
PROVISION 1: PROHIBIT POLITICIANS FROM RAISING FUNDS FROM LOBBYISTS
Members of Congress and candidates for federal office may not accept contributions in connection with an election for federal office from a lobbyist.
PROVISION 2: PROHIBIT LOBBYIST CONTRIBUTION BUNDLING
Prohibit lobbyists from bundling campaign contributions in connection with an election for federal office.
PROVISION 3: CLOSE THE REVOLVING DOOR
Extend the existing revolving door limitations applicable to Members of Congress and congressional staff to 5 years for former Members, and 5 years for former congressional staffers who are either (1) paid at a rate of 75% or more of a Member’s salary, or (2) whose duties are not primarily secretarial in nature.
Prohibit Members of Congress and senior congressional staff from negotiating or having any arrangement concerning prospective private employment, including engaging in any preliminary or exploratory discussions regarding such employment, while a Member of Congress or senior congressional staff.
PROVISION 4: PROHIBIT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM FUNDRAISING DURING CONGRESSIONAL WORKING HOURS
Prohibit Members of Congress from engaging in political fundraising and soliciting between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day in which their House of Congress is in session and is not adjourned or in recess for that entire day, and during any other hours in which the Member’s House of Congress or any committee or subcommittee thereof of which they are a member is conducting business.
END SECRET MONEY WITH FULL TRANSPARENCY
PROVISION 5: REQUIRE FULL TRANSPARENCY OF SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL FUNDRAISING AND SPENDING
Require automatic electronic disclosure of political fundraising and expenditures over $200.
Enact the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act of 2015, S. 229, H.R. 430, 114th Cong, to end dark and grey money.
Require disclosure of bundlers of contributions. Require incumbent federal officials and candidates for federal office to disclose the identity of any individual who is authorized by or known to the official or candidate to collect and transmit contributions to their campaign committee or leadership PAC, regardless of whether or not the individual is a lobbyist.
FIX OUR BROKEN ELECTIONS
PROVISION 6: END GERRYMANDERING
Transfer all authority over redistricting to an independent, fully transparent commission that must follow strict guidelines to ensure accurate representation for all voters, regardless of political party.
PROVISION 7: CHANGE HOW ELECTIONS ARE FUNDED
Give each registered voter a small credit they can use to make a contribution to candidates and PACs that agree to fundraise only from small donors.
Allow PACs that accept only donations from natural persons no larger than $100 to make contributions to candidates ten times larger than the current limit on traditional PACs.
PROVISION 8: LET ALL VOTERS PARTICIPATE IN OPEN PRIMARIES
Make all candidates for the same office compete in a single, open primary in which all registered voters may participate. The four candidates with the most votes will proceed to the general election. On the primary ballot, allow candidates to display their party preference, and allow parties to display their chosen nominee(s). Establish meaningful thresholds for the number of signatures required to be collected by volunteers in order for a candidate to appear on the ballot.
PROVISION 9: LET VOTERS RANK THEIR TOP CANDIDATES USING RANKED CHOICE VOTING, AVOID SPOILERS
Use ranked choice voting in all elections so voters may rank candidates in order of preference and not be concerned about voting for “spoiler” candidates.
ENFORCE THE RULES
PROVISION 10: FIX THE FEC’S COORDINATION REGULATIONS
The FEC’s current coordination regulations permit extensive collaboration between candidates and supposedly “independent” Super PACs. Amend the Federal Election Campaign Act to create reasonable presumptions of coordination under which an expenditure made by a Super PAC is treated as a contribution to the candidate.
PROVISION 11: INCREASE LOBBYING DISCLOSURE AND ENFORCEMENT
Ensure that paid lobbyists are identified. Current law turns on two requirements to trigger lobbyist status: (1) two lobbying contacts, and (2) 20% of time for client spent engaging in lobbying activities. Instead, set the threshold as (1) two lobbying contacts or providing strategic advice to lobbying efforts or directing or supervising the provision of strategic advice to lobbying efforts, and (2) 12 hours or more spent engaging in lobbying activities.
Require electronic disclosure of the specific officials, offices, committees, or subcommittees contacted; all entities (contractors and subcontractors) employed or retained to engage in lobbying activities, along with description of such lobbying and the identity of each former covered official employed or retained by the registrant who engaged in lobbying activities on behalf of the client, along with description of such lobbying activities. Do away with Internal Revenue Code reporting option for lobbying expenses.
Any person or entity failing to come into full compliance with the requirements of this Act within one year after being identified by the Comptroller General as noncompliant shall be prohibited from engaging in any activities that would require the person or entity to be a registrant or a lobbyist for a period of 2 years.
PROVISION 12: FIX THE FEC AND STRENGTHEN INVESTIGATIVE AND PROSECUTORIAL POWERS.
Enact the Federal Election Administration Act of 2016, S. 2611, 114th Cong. The Act would replace the failed Federal Election Commission (FEC) with a new 5-member Federal Election Administration (FEA) empowered to find that violations of law have occurred and directly impose civil penalties. The FEA would, like other enforcement agencies, use impartial administrative law judges to hear and decide campaign finance enforcement proceedings.
Enact the Public Corruption Prosecution Improvements Act of 2012, S. 401, 112th Cong. Sponsored by Senator Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Cornyn (R-TX), the Public Corruption Prosecution Improvements Act of 2012 was included in the Senate-passed version of the STOCK Act, and was based on an identical bill passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.