Money & Politics

Current Campaigns

Lobby Reform

Recent congressional scandals demonstrate the role of powerful interests and their lobbyists, as they engage in unseemly practices from accepting gifts and travel junkets to outright bribery. This behavior undermines confidence in elected officials directs money from deserving allocations to pet projects. Read more.

Campaign Finance Reform

The high cost of running for public offices invites corruption, reduces the number and diversity of candidates for public office, and forces the concerns of average citizens behind those of wealthy donors. A new system for financing campaigns is necessary to restore the promise of our democracy—one that funds the campaigns of qualified candidates who agree to spending limits and refuse private contributions. Read more.

Overview

Money plays far too great a role in American elections, from the municipal level all the way up to the U.S. presidency. Large contributions from a few groups and individuals unduly influence who wins elections and reduces the role of ordinary voters in our democracy.

Florida PIRG is working to achieve campaign finance reform by enforcing tough campaign contribution limits, creating systems of public financing, and enacting lasting lobby reform.

When Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleaded guilty to accepting more than $2.4 million in bribes, the American public was outraged. Nonetheless, Congress has yet to pass any serious ethics reform laws. Florida PIRG is calling on politicians to revitalize our political process by limiting the influence of powerful private lobbyists and keeping powerful interests from unduly influencing elections. Click here to go to news station Web site to view video.