Questions? +1 (202) 335-3939 Login
Trusted News Since 1995
A service for global professionals · Friday, March 29, 2024 · 699,690,688 Articles · 3+ Million Readers

“Bad Money vs. Bad Money" in Elections Can be Eliminated, Denver Referendum Model, Say Weiner and Schwartz in Colo Sun

Fmr WH Spokesman Robert Weiner & Policy Analyst Jared Schwartz opeds in Colo Sun & LaborPress: campaign reform and food for poor, latest Weiner radio

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, October 8, 2018 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Op-eds

***October 7, 2018: “Bad money vs. bad money — how Denver ballot measure could be blueprint for getting money out of politics” in The Colorado Sun by Robert Weiner and Jared Schwartz

Former White House Spokesman Robert Weiner and Policy Analyst Jared Schwartz wrote an op-ed just published in The Colorado Sun on a Denver ballot measure that can be used as a national model to get money out of politics.

Weiner and Schwartz begin, “Driven by a bizarre confluence of Colorado and federal law, the money rushing into Colorado’s election has taken on a particularly unhealthy role this season. Coloradans are faced with a choice between the Anadarko-backed posterboy and a candidate that buys political offices like tech stocks.”

They continue, “The state and country can do something to change this political moment defined by corruption.”
They go on, “Jared Polis (D), an unabashed progressive, crushed his primary opposition by spending $11.3 million. Walker Stapleton (R) is backed by Better Colorado Now, a Super PAC whose major donors are billionaires and oil and natural gas companies. It has already spent over $1.7 million on Stapleton’s behalf — spending that is certain to ramp up significantly as the election approaches. Jared Polis spent $11.3 million in the primary alone.”

They write, “Many Coloradans voted for Polis in the primary because they reasoned that his personal wealth would guarantee his independence. Candidates are expressly allowed to spend their own money in unlimited amounts, giving multi-millionaires and billionaires carte blanche to try to buy high political office. To run a major campaign in Colorado, a candidate must self-finance or be financed. Be wealthy or be bought.”

They argue, “Polis’ financial dominance in the primary was cemented by one of the strictest campaign donation limits in the country, preventing other Democrats from raising funds directly for their campaigns. In order to compete with wealthy candidates, office-seekers have to accept money from special interests and court the support of super PACs. Voters end up with the choice to support the incredibly wealthy candidate, or a candidate that has accepted money from special interests just to keep their campaign going.”

They explain, “There is another way, one that would undercut the effectiveness of Super PACs and special interests on Colorado elections. The measure, which is on the ballot in Denver, would substantially lower the amount that candidates could accept for their campaigns and prohibit donations from corporations and unions. Crucially, Denver would also match any contribution under $50 at a ratio of 9 to 1, as long as the candidate agreed to even lower donation limits and participated in debates. This would encourage candidates to engage with voters more directly. Freed from the perennial campaign activity of courting big money, candidates could focus on getting their message out to less wealthy donors.”

Link to published article: https://coloradosun.com/2018/10/07/opinion-bad-money-vs-bad-money-how-a-denver-ballot-measure-could-be-a-blueprint-for-getting-money-out-of-politics/

OpEdNews Version: https://www.opednews.com/articles/Bad-money-vs-bad-money--by-Robert-Weiner-Democratic_Democrats_Elections_Government-181008-832.html

***October 2, 2017: “Working Families’ Children Could Fall Off Food ‘Benefit Cliff’” in LaborPress by Robert Weiner, Jared Schwartz and Ben Lasky

Robert Weiner, Jared Schwartz and Ben Lasky just wrote an op-ed for LaborPress write that food stamp cuts might fall off the “benefit cliff.”

Weiner, Schwartz and Lasky begin, “The real impact of proposed food stamp cuts: working families' children could fall off the ‘benefit cliff.’”

They continue, “Piles of evidence link consistently available food to academic performance among schoolchildren. Unfortunately, this research has been ignored by the House leadership, who have included a provision in the 2018 Farm Bill that would jeopardize free meals at school for many vulnerable children from working families.”

Link to published article: http://laborpress.org/working-families-children-could-fall-off-food-benefit-cliff/

OpEdNews version: https://www.opednews.com/articles/Working-Families-Children-by-Robert-Weiner-Food_Food_Food-For-The-Poor_Food-Stamp-Program-181003-773.html

Radio

The Alan Nathan Show, Main Street Radio Network (200 stations)

October 2, 2018, scroll to 31:50
http://www.mainstreetradionetwork.com/audio/shows/BATTLELINE-HR1-181004.mp3

September 25, 2018 scroll to 31:43
http://www.mainstreetradionetwork.com/audio/shows/BATTLELINE-HR1-180925.mp3

September 18, 2018 scroll to 31:03
http://www.mainstreetradionetwork.com/audio/shows/BATTLELINE-HR1-180918.mp3

Robert Weiner
Weiner Public News
202-306-1200
email us here

Powered by EIN Presswire
Distribution channels: Politics


EIN Presswire does not exercise editorial control over third-party content provided, uploaded, published, or distributed by users of EIN Presswire. We are a distributor, not a publisher, of 3rd party content. Such content may contain the views, opinions, statements, offers, and other material of the respective users, suppliers, participants, or authors.

Submit your press release