Why we care

Because no matter what your core economic or social concern, it is almost always directly traceable to the special interest money in -- and influence upon -- our political system:

• High taxes result when politicians write laws to give tax breaks or subsidies to wealthy campaign contributors, or spend taxpayer money on special projects that are not needed;
  
  
• Weak environmental laws result when corporations lobby with cash in hand to ensure that “dumping” and other environmental violations remain free from legal prosecution;
  
  
• High health care costs result when lobbyists succeed in removing controls that limit unnecessary hospital spending, or to block tort reform legislation that has driven frivolous lawsuits and malpractice costs;
  
  
• Needed community projects suffer when state dollars are siphoned off by the special interests who fund our public electoral system; and
  
  
• Elections remain unfairly tilted toward the two-party duopoly, blocking fair ballot access by qualified third-party and independent candidates.
  
  
• When lobbyists reap a 100-1 return on their investment in politicians, remember that it is the taxpayers that are funding the 100.

Click here for a detailed look at the problem