In a rare display of bipartisan accord, Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna and former Representative Matt Gaetz, a Republican, have found common ground on the issue of campaign finance reform.
Khanna, a Democrat from California, has proposed a ban on super Political Action Committees (PACs) and corporate PAC money within the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, has voiced his support for the proposal, suggesting it should extend to both political parties.
According to Newsweek, Khanna, known for his efforts to curb corporate sway in politics, outlined his vision for the DNC on X (formerly Twitter). "The next DNC chair should make two things clear: No super PAC money in Democratic primaries and not a dime of corporate PAC money for the DNC," he wrote. "That is a basic first step to ensure our party represents working and middle-class Americans."
Gaetz, a staunch conservative and frequent critic of Democratic policies, concurred with Khanna's sentiment. "Both parties should do this, actually," he posted in response. Despite their political differences, both Khanna and Gaetz share a mutual concern about the influence of PACs in elections. Khanna has consistently rejected PAC contributions throughout his congressional career, a stance he has repeatedly underscored while advocating for comprehensive campaign finance reform.
In 2022, Khanna and Representative Dean Phillips, a Democrat from Minnesota, reintroduced the "No PAC Act," a piece of legislation aimed at barring congressional candidates from accepting PAC contributions and eliminating leadership PACs, often used as conduits for substantial donations from special interest groups. "Our political process shouldn't be up for sale," Khanna declared at the time.
Gaetz, who recently withdrew his consideration for the attorney general position, has also been a vocal critic of his party's dependence on large donors, frequently declining contributions from major funders. For instance, in the first quarter of 2023, Gaetz raised approximately $675,000, with over $480,000 originating from small individual donations of less than $200 each.
The issue of campaign financing is currently under intense public scrutiny. As of November 18, 2024, super PACs have reported total receipts of approximately $4.29 billion and independent expenditures of about $2.73 billion for the 20232024 election cycle. This coincides with a surge in fundraising by super PACs backed by the cryptocurrency sector, which have set a record by raising more than $102 million.
Khanna's fundraising data mirrors his commitment to individual donations. Like Gaetz, he has steered clear of PAC contributions. For the 20232024 election cycle, 94.55 percent of Khanna's campaign funds have come from large individual contributions, with no PAC involvement.
However, despite this fleeting social media agreement, substantial reforms remain elusive. The Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision, which upheld the legality of unlimited independent political spending by corporations and unions, continues to pose a significant hurdle to overhauling campaign finance laws. This case underscores the complexity of the issue and the formidable challenges that lie ahead in the quest for campaign finance reform.
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