Ben McAdams on Government Reform

End Citizens United: disallow corporate money in politics

BEN MCADAMS: Elections are far too expensive and the obscene amounts of money spent often drown out the dialogue that should occur between candidates and voters. I have been endorsed by End Citizens United, which seeks to overturn the decision which allowed unlimited corporate money in politics. I also support campaign funding limits and transparent and timely disclosure of everyone who is giving money to my campaign.

Keep restrictions on government records access

Deseret News summary: Utah lawmakers repealed a widely criticized law restricting access to many government records. The [repealed] bill largely exempted the Legislature and several forms of electronic communication, allowed for increased fees for records requests and erased language favoring openness. Gov. Herbert called the Legislature into special session to reconsider the bill after a huge public outcry galvanized the community. In a statement afterward, the governor said, "As the Legislature re-examines Utah's GRAMA statutes [for further changes, I hope they'll], protect the public's right to know, protect an individual/s legitimate right to privacy, and protect taxpayer dollars."

Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 23-6-0 on Mar/7/11; State Sen. Ben McAdams voted NO; Passed House 42-29-4 on Mar/7; Signed by Governor on Mar/8.

Holiday on election day; revamp for easier voting access.

• This bill expands voter registration and voting access, makes Election Day a federal holiday, and limits removing voters from voter rolls.
• The bill provides for states to establish independent, nonpartisan redistricting commissions.
• The bill also sets forth provisions for sharing intelligence information with state election officials, and supporting states in securing their election systems, and establishing the National Commission to Protect U.S. Democratic Institutions.
• This bill addresses campaign spending, by expanding the ban on foreign nationals contributing to or spending on elections; and expanding disclosure rules.
• This bill establishes an alternative campaign funding system [with] federal matching of small contributions for qualified candidates.
• The bill also requires candidates for President and Vice President to submit 10 years of tax returns.

Opposing argument from the Heritage Foundation, 2/1/2019: HR1 federalizes and micromanages the election process administered by the states, imposing unnecessary mandates on the states and reversing the decentralization of the American election process. What HR1 Would Do:

• Seize the authority of states to regulate the voting process by forcing states to implement early voting, automatic voter registration, same-day registration, online voter registration, and no-fault absentee balloting.
• Make it easier to commit fraud at the polls through same-day registration, as election officials have no time to verify the accuracy of voter registration.
• Degrade the accuracy of registration lists by automatically registering individuals from state databases, such as DMV.
• Cripple the effectiveness of state voter ID laws by allowing individuals to vote without an ID and merely signing a statement in which they claim they are who they say they are.

Legislative outcome: Passed House 234-193-5 on 3/8/19; received with no action in Senate thru 12/31/2019