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Should candidates disclose their donor lists?

D

Donatello

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How much transparency makes sense?

Is there a good reason for the public to know who is giving big money (over $100K) to candidates? I'm including PAC donations?

What benefit to voters is keeping that information secret?
 
Qualifier before responding, I am not thrilled about how campaigns and PACs are funded these days including the quantity of money floating around in politics.

However, what right do we have to demand this information? (Constitutionally speaking.)
 
Donatello said:
How much transparency makes sense?

Is there a good reason for the public to know who is giving big money (over $100K) to candidates? I'm including PAC donations?

What benefit to voters is keeping that information secret?
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Yes. I think it's helpful to know who they are voting for.
 
I think the taxes and gifts given should be disclosed for:
- the President, VP and cabinet leaders
- the SCOTUS justices
- all members of Congress

This should be required at the time of your candidacy.

If you want to be part of the group of less than 1,000 people leading 300+ million Americans, this is a small ask. If you value that privacy instead, there are numerous other jobs to pursue. Seasonal worker. Electrical engineer. Barista. Unemployed angry incel MAGA.
 
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OrphanSlug said:
Qualifier before responding, I am not thrilled about how campaigns and PACs are funded these days including the quantity of money floating around in politics.
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I'm reiterating this.
OrphanSlug said:
However, what right do we have to demand this information? (Constitutionally speaking.)
Click to expand...
We would have the right, if we could overturn Citizens and move us away from PAC's and have them rely on individual donors even if only as a check.

At the end I am usually for MORE transparency, not less when it comes to government ,so ...
 
Donatello said:
How much transparency makes sense?

Is there a good reason for the public to know who is giving big money (over $100K) to candidates? I'm including PAC donations?

What benefit to voters is keeping that information secret?
Click to expand...
I thought that this was required as part of federal election law. Any amount down to $10.00 should be disclosed.

Donor Lookup

This database contains millions of records, so try to be as specific as possible when submitting a query as it will significantly reduce the time it takes to receive your results.
www.opensecrets.org

PACSs and SUPER-PACs should be the same. Gifts to judges or other officials also must be public knowledge.
 
Donatello said:
How much transparency makes sense?

Is there a good reason for the public to know who is giving big money (over $100K) to candidates? I'm including PAC donations?

What benefit to voters is keeping that information secret?
Click to expand...
They should wear patches on their suits like Nascar drivers
 
Good luck with that under Citizens United.

Though it is more than a little awkward to call political donations "speech" if donors are not disclosed. The entire core of the 1st is public political speech. There is no public speech with secret donors. Money isn't speech; it's a speech-amplifier. The act of a secret donation does not convey anything from the donor to the public. It amplifies the ability of the recipient to pump out their own speech, yes, but that's not the same thing as the donor themselves engaging in public political speech.
 
Donatello said:
How much transparency makes sense?

Is there a good reason for the public to know who is giving big money (over $100K) to candidates? I'm including PAC donations?

What benefit to voters is keeping that information secret?
Click to expand...
I see NO benefit to voters. I sure would like to know about mega donor companies and who they support!
 
Donatello said:
How much transparency makes sense?

Is there a good reason for the public to know who is giving big money (over $100K) to candidates? I'm including PAC donations?

What benefit to voters is keeping that information secret?
Click to expand...
Maybe it should not be required, but I would not vote for them if they are afraid to disclose it....
 
Donatello said:
How much transparency makes sense?
Click to expand...
More than we currently have now. It's already far too easy for donors to avoid reporting donations.

Donatello said:
Is there a good reason for the public to know who is giving big money (over $100K) to candidates?
Click to expand...
Heck yes. The public needs to know who is giving money to politicians, so that we have an idea of who is influencing our elected officials. This is critical in holding politicians (and big donors) accountable for their actions.

Donatello said:
What benefit to voters is keeping that information secret?
Click to expand...
Voters? None.
 
Donatello said:
How much transparency makes sense?

Is there a good reason for the public to know who is giving big money (over $100K) to candidates? I'm including PAC donations?

What benefit to voters is keeping that information secret?
Click to expand...
Every candidate every time every donor. I'm talking local city council on up. Everyone.
 
The single most damaging ruling ever to come out of the so-called supreme court.
 
I think this is a very important principle to express. Well said.
 
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