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David Costello on Government Reform

 

 


Restructure Senate based on state population

Costello is running on a "reform agenda" that includes progressive ideas that have gotten little traction in Congress. They include abolishing the Electoral College, restructuring the Senate to be more in line with state population sizes and expanding the House of Representatives.

Costello backs gun control measures and tribal sovereignty, the latter of which could be a contrast with King, who aligned with Gov. Janet Mills against a major rights expansion.

Source: Bangor Daily News on 2024 Maine Senate race , Mar 18, 2024

Substantial reforms to overcome partisan gridlock

Partisan gridlock abounds and our imperfect democracy is in danger of becoming even more flawed. To fix it, we need to do more than simply change who we elect every two to six years. We need to substantially reform our governing practices and institutions, and we need to eliminate the excessive and corrupting influence that money, wealth, and disinformation have over our politics and government.

I am running for the United States Senate because I want to advance long-overdue reforms that will not only help end gridlock in Washington but also help in protecting our rights and freedoms and assist in addressing such pressing problems as climate change, uneven economic prosperity, inadequate health care, shoddy infrastructure, under performing schools, increasing gun violence, and insufficient retirement security. I am also running because I want to help in ensuring that all Mainers are provided with the education, job skills, and other life-enriching opportunities to thrive.

Source: Ballotpedia Candidate Connection: 2024 Maine Senate race , Nov 1, 2023

24-year term limits for Congress; retirement age for judges

As Senator, I will back efforts to: enact pro-democracy campaign finance reforms; impose term limits and retirement age requirements on federal judges, including Supreme Court justices; create an independent Government Accountability and Performance Commission; abolish the Electoral College; end gerrymandering and the Senate filibuster; overhaul of the U.S. House and Senate to ensure greater accountability and more equal representation; impose 24-year term limits on members of the U.S. House and Senate; and streamline our Constitution's amendment process so that it is no longer virtually impossible to update our national charter.
Source: Ballotpedia Candidate Connection: 2024 Maine Senate race , Nov 1, 2023

Mandate automatic voter registration, early and mail voting

Source: 2024 Maine Senate campaign website CostelloForSenate.com , Jul 24, 2023

U.S. Senate is obscenely undemocratic

Costello wants to promote what he calls a reform agenda that would modernize the country's government. "Our governing infrastructure is as outdated as many of our roads, ports and bridges," he said. "Partisan gridlock, government dysfunction, and political disinformation abound, and our imperfect democracy is in danger of becoming even more flawed."

His reform agenda, outlined on his website, includes a call to end the filibuster in the Senate, increase national service programs for young adults, abolish the Electoral College, give presidents line-item veto power, adopt mandatory retirement for judges at age 80, increase the size of the U.S. House and much more. "I view the Senate as obscenely undemocratic," Costello said, and in need of an overhaul.

Costello said his focus is on constitutional and legal reforms that would tackle some of the archaic systems that are holding back the country. "It's not about changing the politician. It's about changing the system," Costello said.

Source: Sun-Journal on 2024 Maine Senate race , Apr 12, 2023

Other candidates on Government Reform: David Costello on other issues:
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