Given the apparent likelihood of a Rand Paul win in Kentucky on Tuesday, I thought some of my readers might be interested in some of Mr. Paul’s ideas about campaign finance reform and lobbying reform. (I discuss these in a new draft on lobbying, which I hope to post soon on SSRN.)
Mr. Paul’s article on campaign finance reform, “The Public Trough,” begins: “Last year, over 15,000 individuals worked for organizations whose sole goal was to rip you off. No, not the mafia or Goldman Sachs, but another distinctly criminal class–Washington lobbyists. In 2008, corporations and unions spent over $3 billion to bribe officials who claim to work for you.” He called upon Congress to include in all government contracts worth at least $1 million a clause banning the contractor from engaging in any lobbying activities or making campaign contributions. It will be interesting to see if he champions these causes if and when he arrives in Washington.