The General Conference of The United Methodist Church believes that there is a serious threat to political democracy if large campaign contributions continue to undermine traditional values and the belief that all citizens can work together to set national goals and devise policies that seek to better the lives of all. In the first six months of 1995, the top 400 U.S. corporate-industrial political action committees (PAC's) gave nearly 60% of their $10 million in largess to Republican House members. In 1994, almost two-thirds of this beneficence went to House Democrats. Despite strenuous national efforts to reduce smoking, 79% of all current members of Congress--339 Representatives and 83 Senators--have accepted tobacco industry PAC contributions in the last 10 years. Common Cause states that the average member of the United States Senate has to raise over $2,000 a day during six years in office to court the favor of special interests to be reelected, thus diverting substantial time and effort from his/her official responsibilities. We commend those politicians of both parties who are working to achieve real campaign reform, including measures to end contributions by political action committees; to limit a candidate's personal loans to his/her campaigns; to end out-of-state contributions to campaigns; and to ban meals, trips, and gifts paid for by special interests to legislators, their families, and staff.
We call upon all United Methodists who are citizens of the U.S.A. to work within their own states to build support for measures that would end the flood of special interest monies to political campaigns and restore integrity to decision-making in the Congress.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 22467-CS-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference