Rethinking Campaign Finance Law

This morning a jury found David Safavian, the former chief procurement official in the Bush administration, guilty of covering up his ties with one time superlobbyist and major campaign contributor Jack Abramoff.

Although the culmination of this trial shows that illegal activities will not go unpunished, it also underscores a need for more transparency in our campaign finance laws, both federally and here in Oregon.

Citizens have a constitutional right to make their voices heard in the political process through the first amendment's freedom of speech clause. But when too much money pours into our elections system, greed and corruption can ensue. One need only look to the convictions of Safavian and others like former US Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham for examples of when big money and politics have become too closely tied.

While it is not necessary or constitutional to take away citizens' ability to participate fully in the political process, common sense steps must be taken here in Oregon to clean up our campaign finance laws to help make Salem smarter and more accountable. Secretary of State Bradbury has made some good first steps, including requiring candidates to file their campaign finance reports electronically. But if we truly want to ensure that Salem is accountable to Oregonian voters and not outside interests, we must begin to seriously consider changes to our campaign finance laws.