OREGON’S 7 DECREES OF ANTI-CORRUPTION
My administration will implement Oregon’s 7 Decrees of Anti-Corruption to prevent corruption within our state government. Any congressperson or candidate who does not support and abide by all 7 decrees will have an unofficial title attached to their candidacy….”PUBLIC NOTICE: This politician does not support Anti-Corruption policies”
1. Dark Money
We will be expecting any candidate or campaign that accepts dark money or money from Super PACs with undisclosed motives to make immediate disclosures:
(1) All political fundraising, campaign donations, Super-PAC spending must be immediately disclosed electronically/online and made easily accessible for public viewing. Disclosure shall include exactly where every dollar came from and any expectations or requests for action based on contributions.
(2) Like the warning on a pack of cigarettes, candidates must disclose a warning to the public that they are allowing dark money to infiltrate their political campaign.
2. Making it Easier for Third Parties
Oregon voters want a third party. We should respect the will of the people and make it easier for third parties to thrive by giving voters more choices. One way to do this is by creating a state-wide voting system that encourages third-party candidates while also assuring the people that their vote will not be a wasted vote.
Star Voting will do exactly that…allow people to vote their conscience. This new voting system will allow for greater diversity in our government whose elections are currently dominated by negative campaigning and Big Money.
This will of course get pushback from those in the 2-party system, but as your governor I can assure you I will make it my mission to repair our broken election system.
3. Conflict of Interest
Politicians must recuse themselves from voting on any bills, laws, amendments or policies from a for-profit industry, organization or company that has donated to their campaign. Specifically those from the BIG-5.
For example, if the oil industry donated hundreds of thousands to an individual’s political campaign, then that politician may not vote on any laws pertaining to that industry. Under Oregon’s 7 Decrees of Anti-Corruption, it would be considered a conflict of interest and an unethical violation of their duties.
4. The Lying Politician
Lying on the campaign trail or while in office needs to be considered a crime.
Any politician who is blatantly lying to the public needs to be held accountable and needs to face consequences. If a politician is made aware that they are telling a clear, verifiable and undeniable lie by a non-partisan fact-checking panel and they fail to immediately and publicly acknowledge and correct the record, then they need to be held accountable and charged with a a crime punishable by law.
Truth in Politics should be a no-brainer.
5. Gerrymandering
When congress had a 12% approval rating and over a 90% re-election rate we know the system is broken. We will end gerrymandering in the state of Oregon by creating an independent, fully transparent redistricting commission that will follow strict guidelines to ensure accurate representation for all voters, regardless of their political party. Gerrymandering is political thievery.
6. Political Fundraising
Politicians will no longer be allowed to raise money during the workday when they should be serving their constituents. Many politicians spend time fundraising for their future elections instead of working in the present. This is a betrayal of their constituents. This is also a betrayal of the job they swore an oath to do. Politicians are not elected to raise money for themselves; they are elected to create and pass laws for the people they represent.
Only in the 6 months prior to an election should political fundraising be allowed.
7. The Politician & The Lobbyist
All politician-to-lobbyist communications must be fully transparent and entered into the public record. The lobbyist must be identified, and questions must be answered — Who do they work for and what do they want?
Did you know politicians get paid vacations, lavish gifts and huge amounts of money in the form of campaign donations from the lobbyists of special interest groups? In return, politicians create laws that are VERY favorable to those industries the lobbyists represents.
Furthermore, any congressperson leaving Congress will be prohibited from working for a paid lobbyist firm for up to 5 years after leaving their elected position. They will also be prohibited from negotiating lobbyist jobs while in office. This will help to end the revolving door of corruption.
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