Summary:

To see if the Town will vote to or take any action related thereto:

 

WHEREAS, the current and increasing role of money in politics threatens the democratic ideals upon which our republic was founded; and

 

WHEREAS, in an effort to restore voter confidence in our democracy, a non-partisan, grassroots movement known as “Represent.Us” is working for legislative reforms to reduce the opportunity

for corruption within the political system in our country by supporting a legislative reform bill known as the “American Anti-Corruption Act” (the Act), and

 

WHEREAS, the Act targets bribery by preventing lobbyists from donating to politicians and offering them deals that could influence policymaking, ends secret money by mandating full transparency, enables citizens to fund elections, closes the “revolving door” between Congress and lobbying firms, and enhances the power of the Federal Election Commission.

 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the legal voters of the Town of Arlington, Massachusetts that tough new anti-corruption laws as included in the American Anti-Corruption Act must be passed by the Massachusetts General Court as well as the US Congress to remove the corrupting influence of money on our political system. The Act prohibits politicians from taking campaign money from industries they regulate; increases transparency for campaign funding; empowers all voters through a tax rebate voucher to contribute to the candidates they support; prohibits representatives and senior staff from all lobbying activity for five years after leaving office; and places limits on super PACs.