Good Government, Anti-Corruption & Clean Elections

Jared believes our government should work for regular Mainers, not corporations, special interests, or the wealthy. 

The outsize influence of dark money, corporations, and special interests in our elections and our politics undermines our democracy. The politician-to-lobbyist pipeline and the private financial interests of public officials and their families create real and perceived conflicts of interest. Foreign entities interfere in federal and state elections, including ballot initiatives. 

Jared is working to restore government integrity and fight corruption, increase transparency in campaign finance, and reduce the role of foreign entities, corporations, and dark money in politics — including by overturning the disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision. 

Jared introduced the following legislation In the 118th Congress:

Service for the People, Not for Profit

• Lifetime Lobbying Ban Act: The member-to-lobbyist revolving door undermines trust that elected officials are serving the public interest, rather than setting up a high-paying lobbyist career. This bill would end the current waiting period for former members of Congress to work as a federal lobbyist and ban the practice altogether.
• Term Limits Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Americans on both sides of the aisle are ready for new voices in politics. This constitutional amendment would limit the number of terms members of Congress can serve — three terms for the House and two terms for Senate. 
• Congressional and Executive Foreign Lobbying Ban Act: This bill would ban retired members of Congress, senior executive branch officials, and high-ranking military officials from lobbying for foreign interests.. 
• TRUST in Congress Act: Public service isn’t about making a personal profit. This bill would prohibit members of Congress, their spouses, and their dependent children from owning or trading stocks while in office, except through a qualified blind trust. 
• Stop Foreign Payoffs Act: The public should be able to trust that elected officials are representing Americans, not foreign entities. This bill would bar public officials and their close family members from investing in or receiving a salary from foreign businesses as long as the public official is in office. Applies to members of Congress, presidents, vice presidents, and Cabinet secretaries. 
• NO CORRUPTION Act: Politicians should face real consequences when they abuse their office. This bill would eliminate pension payments for members of Congress who have been convicted of felonies or various offenses related to their work in office. 
   

More Transparency, Less Foreign Influence in Our Elections

• Block Foreign-Funded Political Ads Act: Foreign adversaries shouldn’t be able to pay to sow division among Americans or spread propaganda on American media channels. This bill would prevent foreign nationals, governments, and organizations from funding political ads, including on social media and other online platforms.
• Consistent Labeling for Political Ads Act: Even when disclosures are required in political advertising, they can often disappear. This bill would require social media companies to make political ad labels “sticky,” so that disclosures appear on paid content no matter how it is shared or spread.
• Fighting Foreign Influence Act: This bill would make tax-exempt organizations publicly disclose large gifts from foreign political parties and require campaigns to verify that online donors have a U.S.-based address.
• Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act: American elections are for Americans — full stop. This bill would prohibit contributions and donations by foreign nationals in American elections.
• Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE ACT): Large corporations and the wealthy often hide their advocacy by funneling political donations through organizations that can hide their donor lists. This bill would fight dark money by requiring all organizations that spend money on elections to disclose major donors every election cycle. 
• Keeping Foreign Money out of Ballot Measures Act: It doesn’t matter if the vote is on a statewide ballot initiative or local referendum, foreign donors shouldn’t have a say in decisions by Maine voters. This bill would prohibit foreign nationals from making political contributions or donations to state ballot measures and initiatives. 
   

Ending Citizens United and Getting Money Out of Politics

• Crack Down on Dark Money Act: Record-breaking political spending has crowded out the voices of regular Americans. This bill would limit political activity by 501(c)(4) nonprofits — the favored vehicle for mega-donors to pour undisclosed money into politics — to no more than 10 percent of their spending and require they disclose donors of $5,000 or more if they spend on elections.
• Democracy for All Constitutional Amendment: Corporations aren’t people. This constitutional amendment would overturn the Citizens United decision, distinguishing between corporations and real people, and limiting corporate spending in elections. The amendment would also enact federal public campaign financing — just like we have in Maine.
• Ban Corporate PACS Act: When election laws favor corporations over families, America loses. This bill would block for-profit corporations from influencing campaigns and elections by banning them from sponsoring, operating, or funding Political Action Committees.

Click here for a one-sheet summary of Jared's Government Integrity & Anti-Corruption Plan.