Mark Totten is Spot On About Special Interests
Mark Totten’s website has received an overhaul with a lengthy issues page. What struck me the most was his section entitled Ensuring Candidates Answer to Voters, Not Parties and Special Interests:
We can’t expect campaigns and candidates to prioritize the communities they promise to serve as long as candidates must count on special interests rather than voters to pay most of their way to Lansing. Michigan has some of the lowest caps on individual giving, the excitement around Mark’s campaign has resulted in his raising more from individuals in this state than any other candidate for state House or Senate. Nonetheless, Michigan law allows virtually unlimited special interest and political party contributions to a campaign. Our current rules muffle the people’s voice and amplify the special interests, and that is wrong. We need to close the gap between individual and special interest contributions by placing meaningful caps on special interest and Party giving while exploring ways to increase the ability of individuals to give to both a primary and general election fund.
Mark is right about this and should be commended for being brave enough to incorporate it in his platform.