Ever hear of the federal Stop Act?
To me, it’s a result of some disgusting activity on Capitol Hill. Both political parties are engaged in this activity, and U.S. Rep. Dave Jolly, R-Florida, introduced Bill HR 4443 in Congress to end it all. It’s called the “Stop Act” of Feb. 13, 2016.
The new bill amends the Federal Election Act of 1971, prohibiting an individual holding federal office from soliciting funds directly from any person on behalf of any political committee or party, or on behalf of any person for use in federal election activity.
The federal office holder may, however, partake in a fundraiser as a guest or a guest speaker, but may not engage in solicitation of funds for the event.
So, here’s the disgusting part that caused Rep. Jolly to write the Stop Act. Senators and congressmen, especially newly elected ones, are called together and told that they must spend 30 to 40 hours per week soliciting funds from people directly, and that they’re expected to produce some $18,000. per day.
Since elected officials are prohibited by law from doing this from their offices, the political parties have each opened “boiler rooms” across the street to do their dialing for dollars.
It’s a cult-like operation, and sitting congressmen and senators compromise the dignity of their offices by sitting in these sweat shop phone banks, calling people and asking them for money. It’s shameful, and if they refuse to solicit, their re-elections are in jeopardy.
This activity is due to the explosion of fundraising since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, allowing corporations and unions to spend unlimited sums of money to defeat individual candidates. Today’s Super Pacs have evolved from this.
So, the Republican and Democratic parties have countered by coercing their senators and congressmen to spend four hours per day soliciting money, leaving two hours to do the work of the electorate.
Six co-sponsors are backing HR 4443, including our own congressman, Rep. Reid Ribble. In fact, Ribble has decided not to run for re-election.
Therefore, I recommend contacting members of Congress and the Obama administration to back the Stop Act and put an end to this forced dastardly soliciting by our senators and congressmen.
Ron Reynolds
Waupaca