Campaign Finance - The Federalist Way

Why not make a political cocktail to reform campaign financing. Create an elixir of two heady ingredients that every politician understands. The first being what Tip O'Neill used to say, "All politics is local," - its what baby kissing is about. The second," money is the mother's milk of politics"- that's what winning is all about.

"Local and money" - they go well together. Put those assets in their proper place - make them politically correct in the 'Federal' sense, and we have a solution to the "money is free speech" dilemma,  and also a needed antidote for the hard money hangover of political corruption that is endemic in campaign finance law.

An antidote, because in a Federalist approach to campaign financing, ALL campaign money, hard or soft, would be raised only in the district or area a candidate is attempting to represent.

Candidates for the Senate or Congress, for example, would be allowed to raise hard money only from individuals living in the State or Congressional district. All soft money likewise could only come from the contested area. The same would hold for all contests at all levels of government.

Interest groups, business and labor associations, etc. would be allowed to raise money only through and from the chapters, locals or branches that are located in a district. No money whould be allowed to flow across districts from "home offices" not in the contested district. With this provision, only "local" money would help determine any election. And by this, excess funds in one contested race would not find its way into other contests.

Federalist ideals should apply to the Presidential race because States have Electoral Votes according to their population. Hard and soft money should only be allowed to help a candidate or party in the State in which that money is raised. No Texas money should influence the presidential race in California, or any other race there, and likewise no Hollywood money should influence New York.

 All financial contributors in any amount should be immediately identified by name and address. Sending money across boundaries to shill organizations to circumvent the Federalist structure, would be prohibited and would safeguard against a candidate being deluged with opposition or showered with beneficence from interests across the country.

America has a Federal political structure with clearly defined constituent districts. By ignoring or distorting them we have built a sense of having a National Government - we don't! Only by recognizing our Federal system can we empower, restrict, and reform campaign financing. Its our  true Constitutional identity.