Political Campaign Finance Reform: A Vital Legislation which needs to be enacted

The notion that money influences the political process is not, nor could it ever be, exclusively associated with contemporary politics. It has long been asserted that money drives politics and that graft is often a by-product of holding political office.Here in the Philippines, there are different traditions with regard to campaign finance - some regulating contributions and spending practices, others allowing candidates to collect and use money as they see fit.

Generally speaking, elections are expensive. This is particularly true in the country, with long campaign period, without a pre-defined set of rules on pre-mature campaigning. Money is needed to pay staff, buy advertising on radio, television and other media, and even to raise more money. Presidential campaigns often cost billions of pesos.

Thus, this nature of elections cause those elected to pursue schemes at achieving a high rate of return for costs incurred during the elections. And there is no better way to do so, at a fast rate, than corruption.

Today, I will underscore the need for true blue political campaign finance reform, and how much it can be influential in the behavior of our institutions and our people.

- Reform has the effect of leveling the playing field for candidates. Candidates of enormous leadership potential but small wallets have failed due to the lack of resources. Under a reformed campaign finance system it will be more difficult for well-financed candidates to win purely because of the money they have. Incumbent candidates have a unique advantage over challengers in the present system because of their direct connections to important sources of money.

- Campaign finance reform advances the goal of a broader marketplace of ideas, advancing the objectives of free speech, assembly, and thought. Under the present system, minor party candidates voices are trampled by the booming voice of large, well-funded campaign operations. The heavy cost of campaigning discourages many potential candidates from entering contests.

- Campaign finance reform gives the individual donor a voice more comparable to other interests. At present, the enormous amount of money channeled into campaigns by large corporations, unions, and special interest groups overwhelm the smaller, limited contributions of individual donors. Under many campaign finance proposals, limits are suggested for these large group donations. Such limits increase the significance of donations by individual voters, likely increasing the responsiveness of candidates to voters/donors and accountability. Additionally, the increased significance of individual contributions encourages voter participation and activism.

- Campaign finance reform will make elections more competitive, thus resulting in more turnover or "fresh blood" in politics. This is valuable in challenging old orthodoxies and bringing in new ideas. It will also make it easier for members of ethnic minorities and the working class to seek office - such groups are disproportionately deterred from candidacy by the current need to raise huge sums of money.

- Campaign finance reform will reduce corruption in government by discouraging candidates from "selling themselves" to special interests bidding for their votes. Candidates will be less beholden to special interests, and thus, more amenable to listening to good reasons when making decisions about public policy.

In this modern day, all pre-tenses at reform should be supported, because every movement at such shapes, influences and motivates the behavior of the main democratic participants, the people.