|
Bill Nelson on Government Reform
Democratic Sr Senator (FL)
|
|
|
Require ads to disclose funders
Campaign Finance: Require political ads to disclose their largest funders?Nelson: Yes. Backed 2017 DISCLOSE ACT requiring ads to disclose funders & major funders to reveal donations.
Scott: No position found.
Support Citizens United decision,
allowing unlimited political donations from corporations & unions?
Nelson: No. The decision "opened the floodgates to dark money in campaigns."
Scott: Probable yes. Considers political donations part of exercising the right to free speech.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Florida Senate race
, Nov 1, 2018
Russians penetrating our elections, but details classified
Sen. Bill Nelson's claim that Russians have "penetrated" some Florida election systems drew increasing backlash. Nelson stood by his earlier claim: "For months, [Sen. Marco Rubio] and I have been warning Florida's elections officials about the
threat they face. I hope the appropriate federal officials find a way to immediately provide them all the information they can to protect our elections."Nelson's comments drew national attention. He said Russians had "penetrated certain counties
in the state," emphasized he was talking about the current election cycle. He will not say how many counties, citing classified information.
"We were requested by the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee to let the supervisors of election in
Florida know that the Russians are in their records," Nelson said, referring to a July letter he and fellow Florida Sen. Marco Rubio sent to Florida's 67 county election supervisors. The letter is strongly worded but does not describe known hacking.
Source: Miami Herald on 2018 Florida Senate race
, Aug 9, 2018
Supports McCain/Feingold campaign finance reform
Nelson is a proponent of campaign finance reform, along the lines of the McCain/Feingold bill.
Source: Sun-Sentinel editorial
, Oct 28, 2000
Voluntary public financing for all general elections.
Nelson adopted the manifesto, "A New Agenda for the New Decade":
Return Politics to the People
At a time when much of the world is emulating American values and institutions, too many Americans have lost confidence in their political system. They are turned off by a partisan debate that often seems to revolve not around opposing philosophies but around contending sets of interest groups. They believe that our current system for financing campaigns gives disproportionate power to wealthy individuals and groups and exerts too much influence over legislative and regulatory outcomes.
The time for piecemeal reform is past. As campaign costs soar at every level, we need to move toward voluntary public financing of all general elections and press broadcasters to donate television time to candidates.
The Internet holds tremendous potential for making campaigns less expensive and more edifying and for engaging Americans directly in electoral politics.
We should promote the Internet as a new vehicle for political communication and champion online voting.
Goals for 2010 - Introduce voluntary public financing for all general elections.
- Allow properly regulated voter registration and voting online.
- Implement civic education courses in every public school.
Source: The Hyde Park Declaration 00-DLC9 on Aug 1, 2000
Restrict lobbyist gifts & disclose lobbyist info on Internet.
Nelson co-sponsored restricting lobbyist gifts & disclosing info on Internet
EXCERPTS OF BILL:
- Title I: Enhancing Lobbying Disclosure: Requires...
- quarterly instead of semiannual filing of lobbying disclosures reports;
- an annual report on registered lobbyists` contributions;
- maintenance of lobbying information in an electronic database, available to the public free of charge over the Internet;
- disclosure by registered lobbyists of all past executive and congressional employment; and
- disclosure of registered lobbyists` payments or reimbursements for travel and related expenses of government officials.
- Title II: Oversight of Ethics and Lobbying: annual report to Congress on lobbying registration and reports for compliance or noncompliance by lobbyists and their clients.
- Title III: Slowing the Revolving Door - Extends from one to two years the ban on lobbying contacts by former
Members of Congress, and officers of the legislative branch; and prohibits former Congressional employees, within one year after leaving office, from making lobbying contacts with a Member or employee of Congress.
- Title IV: Ban on Provision of Gifts or Travel by Lobbyists in Violation of the Rules of Congress: Prohibits a registered lobbyist from making a gift or providing travel to a Member or employee of Congress, unless the gift or travel may be accepted under the rules of the House or the Senate.
- Title V: Commission to Strengthen Confidence in Congress Act of 2006 - Establishes a Commission to report to Congress on congressional ethics requirements and to recommend improvements to ethical safeguards.
LEGISLATIVE OUTCOME:Referred to Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs; Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar No. 369; never came to a vote.
Source: Lobbying Transparency & Accountability Act (S.2128/H.R.4975) 05-S2128 on Dec 16, 2005
Post earmarks on the Internet before voting on them.
Nelson co-sponsored posting earmarks on the Internet before voting on them
OnTheIssues.org Explanation: This bill attempts to limit earmarks by publicizing them. Rather than banning earmarks, this bill requires that earmarks and other last-minute add-ins get posted on the Internet. Posting provisions on the Internet for 3 days is intended to restrict lobbyists influence on earmarks that would otherwise go unnoticed.
OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY:
Curtailing Lobbyist Effectiveness Through Advance Notification, Updates, and Posting Act or the CLEAN UP Act: Amends the Standing Rules of the Senate to: - Identify and explain separately each provision of a bill & identify the Member who proposed such provision.
- Make each bill provision available to the general public by means of the
Internet for at least 72 hours before its consideration.
- Prohibits consideration of an appropriation bill unless a list of all earmarks in the bill and accompanying reports is available in the same manner.
- Allows a waiver of such prohibitions by a two-thirds majority vote of Members.
LEGISLATIVE OUTCOME:Referred to Senate Committee on Rules and Administration; never came to a vote.
Source: CLEAN-UP Act (S.2179) 06-S2179 on Jan 18, 2006
Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures.
Nelson co-sponsored DISCLOSE Act
Congressional Summary:
- Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2012 or DISCLOSE Act:
- Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to add to the definition of `independent expenditure` an expenditure by a person that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, or takes a position on a candidates, qualifications, or fitness for office.
- Expands the period during which certain communications are treated as electioneering communications.
- Prescribes disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, and certain other entities, including a political committee with an account established for the purpose of accepting donations or contributions that do not comply with the contribution limits or source prohibitions under FECA (but only with respect to such accounts).
- Repeals the prohibition against political contributions by individuals age 17 or younger.
Wikipedia & OnTheIssue Summary:- On January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, ruled that prohibiting corporations and unions from making independent expenditures in political campaigns was unconstitutional. This ruling is frequently described as permitting corporations and unions to donate to political campaigns, but these claims are incorrect. The ruling did remove the previous ban on corporations and organizations using their funds for direct advocacy, including endorsing for or against specific candidates, actions that were previously prohibited.
The result of Citizens United was that `Super PACs` spent millions on TV ads in the 2012 election, advocating both issues and candidates. The DISCLOSE Act attempts to reduce the negative effect of Citizens United by requiring disclosure of independent expenditures made by advocacy groups.
Source: S3369/HR4010 12-S3369 on Jul 10, 2012
CC:Oppose strict Constitutionalist judges.
Nelson opposes the CC survey question on judicial constitutionalism
The Christian Coalition Voter Guide inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Appointing Judges Who Will Adhere to a Strict Interpretation of the Constitution'
Christian Coalition's self-description: "Christian Voter Guide is a clearing-house for traditional, pro-family voter guides. We do not create voter guides, nor do we interview or endorse candidates."
Source: Christian Coalition Surve 18CC-1a on Jul 1, 2018
Prohibit 'voter caging' which intimidates minority voting.
Nelson co-sponsored prohibiting 'voter caging' which intimidates minority voting
Rep. CONYERS: `Since the late 1950`s, the pernicious practice of `voter caging` has been used to discourage or prevent eligible voters from casting their vote. Recent elections have shown that caging tactics are not outdated, and in fact, have disenfranchised voters in recent midterm and Presidential elections. While caging efforts have traditionally been directed at minority communities, all voters are susceptible to these attempts at voter intimidation and suppression.
`The undemocratic practice of voter caging involves sending mail to voters at the addresses at which they are registered to vote. Should such mail be returned as undeliverable or without a return receipt, the voter`s name is placed on a `caging list.` These caging lists are then used to challenge a voter`s registration or eligibility.
`In my home State of Michigan, I have seen firsthand how caging efforts are used to harass, bully, and ultimately disenfranchise, eligible voters. With a
Michigan lawmaker advocating `suppress the Detroit vote,` I cannot help but think that is synonymous with `suppress the Black vote` as Detroit is 83% African American. These voter suppression campaigns always seem to target our most vulnerable voters--racial minorities, low-income people, homeless people, and college students.
`Caging tactics meant to suppress the vote do more than impede the right to vote. They threaten to erode the very core of our democracy. By eliminating barriers to the polls, we can help restore what has been missing from our elections--fairness, honesty, and integrity.`
S.2305: PROHIBITION ON VOTER CAGING: No State or local election official shall prevent an individual from registering or voting in any election for Federal office, or challenge an individual`s registration status or eligibility to vote, if the sole basis for such decision or challenge is evidence consisting of a voter caging document or voter caging list; or an unverified match list.
Source: Caging Prohibition Act (S.2305/H.R.5038) 2007-S2305 on Nov 5, 2007
Repeal automatic Congressional pay raises.
Nelson signed Stop the Congressional Pay Raise Act
A bill to prevent Members of Congress from receiving any automatic pay adjustment in 2010.
For purposes of the provision of law amended by section 704(a)(2)(B) of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 (5 U.S.C. 5318 note), no adjustment under section 5303 of title 5, United States Code, shall be considered to have taken effect in fiscal year 2010 in the rates of pay under the General Schedule.
Source: S.542&HR.156 2009-S542 on Jan 6, 2009
Page last updated: Nov 22, 2024; copyright 1999-2022 Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org