Ethical Campaign Finance

By Tom Campbell

All expenditures intended to influence a California campaign should have their sources identified. At every election, mysterious committees send out hit-pieces on candidates, without disclosing who is actually funding them.

Candidates should be encouraged to limit the amount of money they spend in campaigns. Limits on campaign spending should be encouraged to the maximum extent permitted under First Amendment law. Until the US Supreme Court reverses its position that money is speech, candidates who choose not to abide by voluntary expenditure limits should be identified clearly by social media and news media whenever the candidate’s name is mentioned.