Tufts students looking for greater equality in local and federal elections gathered yesterday for a workshop on lobbying followed by a discussion of campaign finance reform in a broader context.
Massachusetts Voters Board of Directors M. A. Swedlund said, "It's the reform that makes all reforms possible."
Swedlund was invited to speak at the University by the Tufts Chapter of Democracy Matters, a national bipartisan advocacy group for college students lobbying for greater public financing of local elections.
Mass Voters is another advocacy group working full-time for finance reform, which Swedlund said she hopes will create greater diversity among prospective candidates.
"Right now the system is funded by wealthy candidates and wealthy interests," Swedlund said. "They buy influence to legislators and are influencing laws."
In Massachusetts, the most recent effort to finance reform has taken the shape of a "Fair Financing Elections Bill" which would allot state funds to match modest fundraising efforts by candidates who would not otherwise be able to run for office.
Incumbents have such an advantage strategically and financially, that contenders are often discouraged from running at all, Swedlund said.
Arizona and Maine have recently passed similar legislation that significantly increases public financing for elections.
"Many legislators are pretty frustrated, too," she said. "Most of the [current leadership] gets big money - it's a pretty small elite."
Swedlund and Mass Voters are part of a coalition of advocates who garner support among legislators for campaign finance legislation, work Swedlund said that college students can assist with.
"Have you ever lobbied your parents? Your teachers? How about an A on that exam, professor?" Swedlund asked. "Then you can be a good lobbyist. It's very much common sense."
Swedlund said she is calling for additional action on the matter after a previous reform bill experienced significant resistance from the State Legislature despite public support from a statewide referendum.
Swedlund said there is resistance within local governments for greater public financing of campaigns, and called for greater efforts on the issue.
After offering concrete advice on lobbying techniques, discussion shifted to the national context of campaign finance reform in a discussion with professors Deborah Schildkraut and Michael Goldman, both of the political science department.
One need not go past getting out of bed in the morning and picking up a toothbrush to encounter the interests vying for influence in the political world, Goldman said.
"Your toothbrush: who makes the bristles? Who makes the rubber piece on the end?" Goldman asked. "You haven't even picked up your toothpaste - who makes the tube? Who makes the cap?"
He said that politicians, whatever their ideology, must cope with many
different industries in their struggle for power and influence among officials.
"You're an ant trying to fight against incredibly powerful interests," Goldman said.
Yet the precise consequences of special interest financing are still uncertain. "There are a lot of questions of how special interest money affects governments," Schildkraut said. While it certainly improves special interests' access to governments, she said the extent to which it really influences policy is debatable.
Legislation that purports to equalize campaign finance is equally, if not more, complex, Schildkraut said.
Whenever regulations change to cope with one problem, "there are all kind of unintended consequences," Schildkraut said. "You fix one thing over here, and all kinds of new problems pop up over there."
The obscure and complex issue of campaign finance reform relies on making a connection with individuals.
"You really need to get support from people," when taking on any political cause, Schildkraut said. "It's a really hard issue to generate influence on. You have to make people see how this has an effect on their day-to-day life."
The Tufts Democracy Matters chapter would like to make equal opportunity in electoral democracy a more accessible advocacy outlet for the college population.
"There are way many more people interested in Las Vegas than in campaign finance reform," Goldman said. "You're the anomaly, and that's good. The people who are anomalies are the ones who make change, who move mountains."
Despite the complexity, "Is the battle worth fighting?" Goldman asked. "Absolutely."
Organizer sophomore Sarah Newton said she hopes to kick-start the group in full force at Tufts with similar events. Last semester the group brought alumnus and current 34th district Massachusetts State Senator Carl Sciortino to speak on campus.
As an official chapter of the national organization, rising Democracy Matters officer freshman Alexandra Wright said that the priorities for next year include increased awareness among the campus population, lobbying efforts to local officials, political education with surrounding high schools, and recognition from the Tufts Community Union Judiciary.
