Campaign
We all know that money plays too big of a role in our elections. That the people and organizations with the most money are the ones deciding who gets elected and the policies they pursue. Thankfully, there are steps we can take to expose secret donors and reign in unchecked spending.
Campaign finance reform is essential to ensure a fair and transparent political process in Nebraska. The current system, dominated by large contributions and undisclosed funding, undermines the integrity of our elections and erodes public trust in government. Implementing robust campaign finance reforms can restore confidence in our democratic institutions and ensure that every Nebraskan’s voice is heard.
One critical reform is the imposition of donor contribution caps. By limiting the amount that individuals and organizations can contribute to political campaigns, we can reduce the undue influence of wealthy donors and special interest groups. This ensures that candidates focus on broad-based community support rather than catering to a few high-dollar contributors. Contribution caps promote equity, making it possible for candidates from diverse backgrounds to compete on a more level playing field.
Another vital policy is the mandatory disclosure of dark money. Currently, significant amounts of money are funneled into Nebraska’s political system through opaque channels, with little to no transparency about the sources of these funds. Requiring full disclosure of all political donations and expenditures will shine a light on who is funding campaigns and help voters make more informed decisions. Transparency in campaign financing is crucial for holding candidates and elected officials accountable to the public.
By enacting these and other campaign finance reforms, Nebraska can lead the way in creating a more transparent, equitable, and democratic electoral process. It is time for our state to prioritize the interests of its citizens over those of a powerful few and to ensure that our government truly represents the will of the people.
Check This Out!
Even elections like Nebraska’s Public Service Commission are influenced by big donors.
Under the leadership of Common Cause Nebraska, a working group is formed to explore ways of keeping campaign spending in check. Group members include Board Chair Bill Avery and board member Ruth Thone, as well as Speaker of the Legislature Dennis Baack, trucking executive Duane Acklie, and lobbyist Walt Radcliffe. Both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party also were represented.
The working group creates a bill that includes voluntary spending limits, public funding, and aggregate contribution limits. It is introduced by Speaker Baack in 1992 and passes into law that same year.
With the CFLA in effect, candidates for legislature limit their spending on elections. No public funding is triggered and campaign costs are kept under control.
A race for University of Nebraska Regents far exceeds past costs and triggers substantial public funding. It is clear in retrospect that the spending was intended to weaken the CFLA.
Another race for University Regent threatens the future of the CFLA, with six figure expense estimates potentially bankrupting the program. Thankfully, the funding isn’t triggered, and program remains intact.
Yet another Regents race threatens the CFLA. David Hergert, in his bid for a Regent position, intentionally fails to file required campaign spending reports, thus blocking his opponent from receiving state funds. While Hergert wins the election, he is ultimately barred from the position by the legislature because of his actions.
CFLA spending limits are tied to cost of living, making them more reasonable as time progresses.
Efforts by state Senators to end the program increase, but are thwarted thanks to Common Cause and the League of Women Voters.
Because of Supreme Court decisions in Citizens United (2010) and Arizona Free Enterprise vs the FEC (2011) the Nebraska Supreme Court rules the CFLA unconstitutional.
Despite that fact, the CFLA was responsible for many successes:
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