Flathead Lake, 2014 Fund for the Republic is a nonpartisan, nonprofit grantmaking group committed to reducing the influence of money in American politics and policymaking. A comprehensive view… 2021 Victory Plan To Reduce the Influence of Money in Politics Strategic Overview April 2014 V2.140429 ABOUT THIS PLAN The plan is the property of all who support it and work to make its vision reality. All have a stake in making it better and in its effective implementation. Responsibility for its continued refinement rests with an executive committee of the Coordinating Council, a national group of donors and donor representatives who are dedicated to the mission and have made substantial financial commitments towards the success of the plan. Categories for activity… GOAL Our goal is to dramatically reduce the influence of money in politics by 2021 through the passage of legislation at the local, state, and federal levels in a judicial environment supportive of, and with an engaged citizenry committed to, continued success. To achieve this goal, we must succeed across five core areas of activity simultaneously: I. WIN AND KEEP WINNING THE PUBLIC DEBATE Public opinion on the question of money-in-politics is crystal clear: substantial majorities of Americans of all political affiliations are disgusted by the current system, but are skeptical that anything can change. Overcoming that cynicism and converting anger into meaningful support of clearly defined solutions is a fundamental precondition for success. This will require enhancing the potency and efficacy of our messaging as well as establishing positive momentum by proving that winning is possible. To win by 2021, we will: Overwhelmingly win the communications battle and engage millions of Americans in support of meaningful solutions and clearly defined victories; View from the front lines… Amassing a bigger army. Potential… Republicans To do so we need to show that… A stronger democracy is an all-American cause. About those allied forces… 1) Intensifying interest of traditional allies 2) Emerging potential new allies Potential… Republicans The Opportunity Which two factors have the most influence on how members of Congress vote? Voted Democrat Special interests and lobbyists How serious a problem is the general influence of money in politics? Voted Republican 60 58 Campaign contributors 46 45 Views of their constituents 14 15 Their own conscience 13 11 N o Serious t s e r i o u s 95% 5% Republicans say… 86% more than say it’s very half important say we need to eliminate corruption in politics (as much as any other voter) Global Strategy Group, major reforms to December 2013 the way we 3-in-4 say SCOTUS got Citizens United wrong finance campaigns Lake Research Partners, December 2013 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, April 2014 Envisioning a Conservative Lighthouse • Conservatives understand money is distorting public policy • GOP is in danger if voters continue to view it as a party of the wealthy • Even with a largely unrestrained campaign finance system, GOP does not have an advantage in the money game • Current system risks undermining faith in our democracy • Not much intellectual backup of the Roberts-court “speech” argument “Democracy is in trouble…” “Republicans spending the same amount in the same way are seen as having suspicious motives, a desire to cut out small people and grabbers for power.” – Republican operative Policy • Pro-transparency and disclosure • Support for strengthening parties rather than super PACs • Support for addressing money/ lobbying connection • Disagreement on how to encourage small donors • Varying levels of agreement on other potential policies “The Party needs to change.” – Republican advisor “I do think the money and ‘inside game’ of D.C. is the underbelly of democratic government…it has the entire democracy in trouble. ” - Former Bush Administration official “It would be a great wedge issue that would begin to bring credibility and trust back to the party.” – Former top Bush Administration official “[Could] make the party more relevant to average voters, immigrants, people of color and young people” -Political strategist “I think it would be a worthwhile exercise and beneficial for the party.” – Former campaign manager Anti-cronyism “American capitalism… grew in a unique incubator that provided it with a distinct flavor of competitiveness, a meritocratic nature that fostered trust in markets and a faith in mobility. Lately, however, that trust has been eroded by a betrayal of our pro-business elites, whose lobbying has come to dictate the market rather than be subject to it, and this betrayal has taken place with the complicity of our intellectual class.” Anti-cronyism “[I have] some quarrels with Piketty. But, actually, I, myself, tell my fellow conservatives, don't be afraid of this. Let's have a debate about what policies are better for the middle class. I think the Republican Party has become not critical enough of crony capitalism.” -Bill Kristol, The Weekly Standard Potential… Business people Business leaders say… 85% agree that our campaign finance system is broken 71% believe that major contributors have too much influence 87% agree that our system needs either major reforms or a COMPLETE OVERHAUL 75% 72% say that current campaign finance system is pay-to-play say money in politics distorts the market economy Committee for Economic Development The middle-class economic argument “The critical decisions are taken in the political arena, and that’s why the most important reform is stronger protections of our democracy against the disproportionate influence of money in politics.” The American competitiveness argument… “Corporate leaders have relentlessly pushed for loopholes and subsidies that serve narrow self-interest. Part of the business agenda for U.S. competitiveness is to stop taking actions that benefit one’s own firm but, collectively, weaken America’s business environment.” Business leaders on solutions Disclosing all individual, corporate, labor contributions to political committees or other organizations that spend money in election campaigns 90% 68% Reducing influence of individual donors by limiting total amount an individual may contribute to all candidates, political action committees, and party committees 80% 48% Encouraging individual contributions, especially small contributions, by giving them taxexempt status 52% 16% Eliminating need for candidates to raise money by having full public financing of political campaigns 48% 21% Encouraging citizens to participate in elections by matching their small contributions up to $200 with public funds 10% 34% Removing all restrictions on contributions to candidates, PACs, Super PACs, and political parties while also requiring full disclosure of all contributions 8% 22% 19 The emerging time-and-talent drain argument “The volume of money raised is so high that the job has changed from public service to begging for dollars.” Potential… Independents The Independent Voter 78% said it was important for candidates to come up with a plan to limit money and Super PACs Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, October 2012 more than most believe the wealthy have a better chance to agree that McCutcheon influence the election will lead to process – more corruption in politics 50% 4-in-5 say SCOTUS got Citizens United wrong 77% Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, April 2014 CBS News, May 2014 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, April 2014 To recruit more allies and $, we must (in part)… Tell better stories. To recruit more allies and $, we must (in part)… Make it personal… “The price we all pay.” But also be aspirational… “Liberate American ingenuity to solve problems.” Price we all pay – “framework for the movement” slide The price we all pay… When%crony%capitalists% write%regula?ons%to% favor%their%own%business% and%cripple%the% compe??on…% % I#pay#the#price#by% struggling%to%ever%get% my%small%business%off% the%ground.%% % When%industry%lobbyists% contest%the%need%to% upgrade%school%menus% and%are%able%to%get%pizza% sauce%classified%as%a% vegetable…% % I#pay#the#price#with% poor%health%and%an% obesity%problem.%% % When%polluters%donate% millions%so%legislators% vote%down%emission% standards…% % I#pay#the#price#with% chronic%asthma%aMacks.% When%they’re%“too%big% to%fail”…% % My#family#pays#the# price#by%bailing%them% out%with%my%re?rement% savings%and%my%financial% security.%%%% To recruit more people and $, we must… Make democracy part of the canon of philanthropy… Philanthropy’s Blind Spot for Democracy Of the $300 billion per year in charitable giving in the U.S., only $45 million (.00015%) is spent reducing the influence of money over politics and policymaking. Despite significant investments in other causes, progress is blocked. *Source: Giving USA