One step, two step, and another step after that... it's the reform dance!
After Congress puts the first set of important ethics reforms into place, here's hoping they don't turn off the music. Not to take away from the Democrats'
initial package of reforms--tightening the rules on gifts and travel, limiting junkets, and more--but the real prize will be taking big money out of the campaign equation via full public financing of elections. It's the "bolero" of reforms, if you will.
This dance happens to take place all around the country, from USA Today's
editorial page today...
This is a step forward, but if it is the only step it will not be enough. Money rules in Washington because even the most ethical candidates need wads of it to get elected and those of lesser principle are easily seduced by lobbyists' solicitations. Public financing of campaigns would have greater impact and is an idea that should be pursued later on.
... to Gov. Eliot Spitzer's "
State of the State" in New York yesterday:
But reform will not be complete if we simply address the supply of contributions. We must also address the demand. Full public financing must be the ultimate goal of our reform effort. By cutting off the demand for private money, we will cut off the special-interest influence that comes with it.
The reforms laid out by the new Democratic leadership for the first 100 hours are great, but let's not turn the jukebox off after that. We've got a lot more to do to clean up Congress and put democracy back in the hands of the voters, where it belongs. (Insert final music and dance metaphor here.)
