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