January 20, 2006

End pay-to-play system

Dear Editor:

Congress' lack of enforcement of its own rules, combined with an environment in which lobbyists were encouraged to pay to play, helped create the Jack Abramoff scandal, and now substantive reforms must be enacted to prevent reoccurrence.

Last May in Portland, we created a way to finance campaigns that helps candidates bypass the pay-to-play system.  But our voter-owned elections system is already under attack by deep-pocketed special interests who want to take their power back.

We don’t need Washington, D.C. scandals in Portland.  Let’s stop the power grab and keep elections fair for all.

Andi Miller
Executive Director, Common Cause of Oregon
Salem