Money in politics: how Iowa donors stack up

A recent report released by the Sunlight Foundation details top donors to federal candidates in the last election cycle by state. Agribusiness giant and Branstad-appointed Board of Regents President Bruce Rastetter tops the Iowa list of campaign donors. You can check out the full report here. While the report is disturbing, it comes as no surprise. Thanks to recent Supreme Court decisions that chip away at campaign finance regulations and the growth of big-moneyed political groups, the corrosive influence of big money within our political system continues to grow.

As wealthy donors continue to give more and more, it silences everyday Iowans who participate in the political process by voting or giving small contributions; it has little meaning in light of  huge contributions. The report shows that wealthy donors, many with corporate interests and personal gain in mind, are using the "pay to play" campaign finance system to gain favor with elected officials.

This "pay to play" system is another reason why people are upset with Congress - many see congress as serving big-moneyed interests, not the interests of everyday people. We think the best way to confront the corrosive influence of big money on our political system is by instituting a small dollar public finance system that empowers small dollar donors in a legislator's own district. This will allow candidates to focus on hearing from everyday folks in their district, rather than relying on huge sums from a few individuals. Check out coverage of the report and Iowans' reactions here.