PRESIDENTIAL PRIORITIES

Statement of Lisa Gilbert, Vice President of Legislative Affairs, Public Citizen

Note: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today released a campaign finance reform plan that would require disclosure from presidential campaign bundlers and outside finance committees, lower contribution limits and elevate small-donor financing.

A commitment to ensuring a fair and representative democracy to rebuild faith in government and create a system that works for people should be a must-have for every presidential candidate. Restoring our democracy has taken on new and historic importance as America grapples with the most fundamentally corrupt administration in our history and the resulting impeachment inquiry.

As both a senator and a candidate, Elizabeth Warren has been out in front on this issue, making it clear that fixing our democracy, calling out corruption, addressing money in politics and restoring voting rights will be top priorities if she wins the White House. In her newly released campaign finance plan, she lifts up the need for small-donor public financing, disclosure of secret political spending and a Federal Election Commission that functions to enforce our laws, among other critical reforms. We applaud these essential moves.

Statement of Lisa Gilbert, Vice President of Government Affairs, Public Citizen

Note: Today, former Vice President Joe Biden announced that if elected, he would introduce comprehensive democracy reforms including legislation requiring small-donor public financing, the establishment a Commission on Federal Ethics (CFE) – a single government agency empowered to oversee and enforce federal anti-corruption and ethics laws – and strengthening conflicts of interest laws.

With our current backdrop of presidential impeachment due to egregious unethical conduct, the need for candidates to be on the record loudly discussing reforms to fix our system of democracy is obvious.

President Donald Trump, with his abuse of his office for personal enrichment, is the corrupt capstone on our dysfunctional system. We need renewed commitment to checks and balances, anti-corruption and to fixing our system of campaign finance.

Biden’s commitment to small-dollar public financing is significant. This policy is included in H.R.1 and would help ensure that regular Americans have a loud voice in politics. We’re excited to see its inclusion in Biden’s plan.