Petition Text: 22889-CS-NonDis-O

In the U.S.A., the pouring of tens of millions of dollars into political campaigns in order to buy special influence with legislators has become a national scandal. Citizens forsake participation in the political process because they believe policies are shaped by money from special interests--not by the national interest or the needs of the people.

The issue of campaign financing is far more than a political matter. It goes to the heart of the ethical and moral life of our nation.

The present system compels most members of Congress to continually court monied special interests in order to finance their next election campaign. It is time to free Congress from this corrupting pressure--through a system of public campaign financing that would take government away from special interests and return it to the people.

If the members of Congress are to focus on the well-being of the people and the nation, they must be able to depend on public financing rather than pursuing special interest money.

We commend those politicians of both parties who are working to achieve real campaign financing reform.

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 Congress.

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PETS Creator: John Brawn

Petition Text: 22889-CS-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference