2016 Candidates On Money in Politics

The debate over money in politics is inescapable in the 2016 presidential election and we're keeping track of what candidates are saying about the issue. Have something to add?

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

Donald Trump’s answer to a question about money in politics during his Reddit AMA, July 27th, 2016. (x)

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

The staff of the L.A. Times annotates Hillary Clinton's DNC acceptance speech.

"I believe America thrives when the middle class thrives. I believe that our economy isn't working the way it should because our democracy isn't working the way it should. That's why we need to appoint Supreme Court justices who will get money out of politics and expand voting rights, not restrict them. And if necessary we'll pass a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United!" - Hillary Clinton, accepting the Democratic nomination for president, July 28th, 2016. 

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

Hillary Clinton Statement on End Citizens United PAC Endorsement

Today, after receiving the endorsement of the End Citizens United PAC, Hillary Clinton issued the following statement.

“I am honored to have earned the endorsement of the End Citizens United PAC, an organization working tirelessly to fix our broken campaign finance system and restore control of our elections to the American people.

“I have said from the beginning of my campaign that we need to be protecting people’s right to vote, not corporations’ right to buy elections. That means restoring the full power and protections of the Voting Rights Act and fighting back against Republican efforts to make it harder for women, young people, and people of color to vote by imposing onerous voting restrictions.

“And it means overturning the disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision and putting our democracy back in the hands of the voters. In my first 30 days as President, I will propose a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. I will appoint Supreme Court justices who understand that this decision deeply hurt our democracy, and I will fight for other progressive reforms to our campaign finance system, including more robust disclosure requirements, and measures that will make it easier for people who aren’t rich or well-connected to run for office, like small-donor matching.

“But we can’t stop there. We should make it easier for people to vote–including through automatic voter registration and a minimum of 20 days of early, in-person voting. Together, we can restore people’s voices and people’s votes to their rightful place–at the center of American democracy.”  

- Hillary Clinton’s statement after being endorsed by End Citizens United PAC, July 20th, 2016.

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

Donald Trump ripping into Hillary Clinton, July 16th, 2016. (x)

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

“You've helped put political and campaign finance reform at the top of the national agenda and I intend to keep it there. Today, I'm announcing in my first 30 days as president, I will propose a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and give the American people, all of us, the chance to reclaim our democracy. I will also appoint Supreme Court justices who understand this decision was a disaster for our democracy. And I will fight for other progressive reforms, including small dollar matching and disclosure requirements. I hope some of the brilliant minds in this room will seek out cases to challenge Citizens United in the courts." - Hillary Clinton, in a video address to Netroots Nation, July 16th, 2016.

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

Hillary Clinton Pledges to Make Reform a “Top Priority.”

Hillary Clinton (D), during a speech in New Hampshire after being endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders on July 12, 2016 (video):

"We won't get anywhere unless we overhaul our campaign finance system. It is past time to end the stranglehold of wealthy special interests in Washington and get back to government of the people, by the people, and for the people. As president, from my very first days, I will make campaign finance reform a top priority.

"We will do everything we can to overturn Citizens United, and we will require everybody - Democrats, Republicans, independent, whoever - to disclose all of their donors. And while we're at it, we're going to create a small donor matching system to make it easy for more Americans to be elected at every level of government. Because just like Bernie, I have met so many impressive people here in New Hampshire and across America with great ideas for our country. I want to see you run for office and win.

"And here's another radical idea: let's make it easier to vote, not harder. Let's fight back against attacks on voting rights across the country, attacks that disproportionately affect low-income voters, people of color, students, the elderly, and women. That means we need to restore the voting rights act, and then keep going. All Americans should be automatically registered to vote on their 18th birthday. Every state should have at least 20 days of in-person voting and none in America should have to wait more than 30 minutes to cast their ballot. So Senator Sanders and I will be working to get unaccountable money out of politics and the voice of everyday Americans back in. Because as Bernie has said, this isn't a progressive issue, it's not a conservative issue, it's an American issue."

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

The TPP creates a new international commission that makes decisions the American people can't veto. These commissions are great for Hillary Clinton’s Wall Street funders who can spend vast amounts of money to influence the outcomes.

Donald Trump, speaking about trade on June 28th, 2016 at a rally in St. Clairsville, Ohio. (x)

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

Donald Trump Assails U.S. Chamber of Commerce Over Trade

A day after saying he would rip up all trade accords, Mr. Trump accused the Chamber of being “totally controlled by the special interest groups.”

“Pressing his staunch opposition to trade deals, Donald J. Trump escalated his attacks on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, saying it was “totally controlled by the special interest groups.”

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

So I have to say now, in order to achieve all these goals, we have to go after and end the political dysfunction that’s holding our country and economy back.  So let’s overturn Citizens United and get unaccountable money out of politics. Let’s shut off the revolving door in Washington and make sure the foxes aren’t guarding the hen house.

Hillary Clinton, in a speech in Cincinnati with Elizabeth Warren, June 27th, 2016. (x)

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

The nice thing is, I don't want or need their money or support. They were very upset when the people they were supporting were soundly defeated by yours truly, but I think the American public will be happy to know that the Koch brothers will not have influence over a Trump administration or the lives of the American people...They were backing other candidates, total puppets for them. So I fully understand their unhappiness and why they wouldn't want to be involved with me."

Donald Trump discussing David and Charles Koch’s refusal to support him, in a statement to Bloomberg Politics on June 10th, 2016. (x)

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

The choice in this election is a choice between taking our government back from the special interests, or surrendering our last scrap of independence to their total and complete control.

Donald Trump, speaking at the Trump SoHo Hotel in Manhattan on June 22nd, 2016. (x)

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

We know too many special interests with too many lobbyists have stood in the way of progress while protecting the perks of the privileged few... One of the reasons this election is so important is because the Supreme Court hangs in the balance. We need to overturn that terrible Supreme Court decision, Citizens United, and then reform our whole campaign finance system. This is about our democracy but it’s also about our economy. Campaign finance reform and reducing the power of special interests is directly related to getting Washington working for people again, making the right investments, putting your jobs and economic security first. That’s why I’m passionate about this issue and I will fight hard to end the strangle hold that the wealthy and special interests have on so much of our government. So let’s do this together.

Hillary Clinton, speaking at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 22nd, 2016. (x)

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

Right now I'm raising a lot of money for the Republican Party, and a lot of beneficiaries to that, and I like doing it.  Life is like a two-way street, right? They have to [help], otherwise I'll just keep doing what I'm doing, I'll just keep funding my own campaign…for me, that's the easy way...I would self-fund in a minute. It's cheaper for me to self-fund.

Donald Trump, speaking to NBC News after a rally in Las Vegas, June 19th, 2016. (x)

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

There’s no reason to raise that [$1 billion]. I just don’t think I need nearly as much money as other people need because I get so much publicity. I get so many invitations to be on television. I get so many interviews, if I want them.

Donald Trump, on whether he needs to raise $1 billion, in an interview with Bloomberg Politics on June 8th, 2016 (x)

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

Now, to make this happen, there’s no question we’ve got to get Washington to work much better, and that starts with getting unaccountable money out of politics.  We’ve got to take –we’ve got to take on Citizens United and get rid of the secret money that is rigging the system. Now, I think it’s fair to say many of you in city and state elections run under tighter regulations, or at least disclosures, than we now do on the federal side.  I don’t say this as a Democrat, I say this as an American:  I think we are really skating on thin ice.  It’s getting to the point where we have no idea where money is coming from.  It’s not being disclosed.  It could be foreign government money.  It could be criminal cartel money.  You don’t have to say; we’ll never know.

Hillary Clinton, speaking to the U.S. Conference of Mayors on June 23rd, 2016 (x)

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

Donald Trump Won’t Self-Fund General-Election Campaign

Donald Trump won’t self-fund his general-election campaign, and will instead create a “world-class finance organization,” the presumptive Republican nominee said in an interview on Wednesday.

[talkingaboutmoneyin2016]

Money is not free speech. Elections should not be auctions. In a democracy, we should have the right to elect people based on their ideas.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 24, 2016