our stance on
Transparency

Fixing Government Transparency: The Pivot Party’s Vision

Behind-closed-doors deals and self-serving legislators have eroded public trust. For too long, special interests and lobbyists have wielded outsized influence, prioritizing wealth and power over the public good. Corruption signals a betrayal of the people’s trust, and it’s time to take action.

The Pivot Party is committed to reclaiming transparency in government. By tracking legislator activities, exposing special interest contributions, and making government spending more accessible, we can ensure our leaders serve the people—not themselves.

The Pivot Party’s Plan for Government Transparency

1. Expose Lobbyist Activity:

   • Require public disclosure of all meetings between lobbyists and government officials.

   • Publish detailed reports on campaign donations and how they correlate to legislative votes.

   • Ban politicians from becoming lobbyists immediately after leaving office.

2. Simplify Access to Public Records:

   • Streamline the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process, making it faster and easier for citizens to access government records.

   • Create a centralized online platform for all public documents, including budgets, contracts, and legislation.

3. Track Government Spending:

   • Develop an open-access portal where citizens can track how tax dollars are spent in real time.

   • Audit government programs and publish reports on their effectiveness and efficiency.

4. Hold Leaders Accountable:

   • Enforce strict penalties for officials caught engaging in corruption, such as accepting kickbacks or unethical gifts.

   • Introduce term limits for legislators to prevent career politicians from entrenching themselves in power.

   • Require transparency in appointments to boards and government positions to eliminate favoritism.

How We Got Here: Key Decisions That Undermined Transparency

To fix government transparency, we must understand the pivotal moments that eroded trust:

1. Federal Corrupt Practices Act (1925):

   • Early attempts to regulate campaign financing failed to enforce meaningful oversight, leaving loopholes for special interests to exploit.

2. Freedom of Information Act (1966):

   • While FOIA was a landmark in transparency, excessive exemptions and slow response times have limited its effectiveness over time.

3. Buckley v. Valeo (1976):

   • Equated money with free speech, allowing wealthier individuals and corporations to exert disproportionate influence in politics.

4. Citizens United v. FEC (2010):

   • Enabled unlimited corporate spending in elections, further entrenching special interest power.

5. McCutcheon v. FEC (2014):

   • Removed aggregate limits on individual contributions to political campaigns, increasing the risk of corruption.

6. Weak Enforcement of Ethics Rules:

   • Lax enforcement of existing rules has allowed politicians to accept lavish gifts, luxury trips, and lucrative post-office board positions without consequence.

A Future of Accountability

The Pivot Party envisions a government where transparency is the norm, not the exception. By shining a light on lobbying, spending, and decision-making, we can restore trust and create a government that works for the people.

It’s time to pivot. Let’s reclaim transparency and ensure our leaders work for us, not for their self-interests.