The Declaration of Independence states: "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed...." Do the governed have a voice in their government today? It would seem not. Today, only if you contribute large amounts of money to the campaign funds of congressional members is your voice heard. Multi-national corporations and special interests across the board dictate how members of Congress vote on the important issues of our day. There are many examples of how big business has influenced our government.

In 1956, 27-28 percent of the federal budget was collected from corporations in the form of taxes. In that same period, individuals contributed 56-57 percent of the total federal budget through income and payroll taxes. Today, taxes on corporations account for only 10 percent of the budget. Individuals have taken up the difference. Our taxes now fund 80 percent of the federal budget. Why has this happened? Because billion dollar corporations pay for our representatives election campaigns. In return, lobbyists are allowed to sit in, write tax laws, include exemptions, tax breaks, and loopholes for those who employ them. Today, some corporations do not even pay taxes, but receive tax rebates from our government. Supposedly, tax rebates are meant to create jobs for American workers, but in reality, many corporations have taken this money, and shipped their factories overseas, and laid off hundreds of thousands of employees. Furthermore, many businesses have tax havens in the Caymans and elsewhere where they are exempt from federal tax laws. If the people have to pay their fair share of taxes, shouldn't American corporations? I say yes.

To end this unequal taxation, and the compromising on issues that results from special interests pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into our representatives election campaigns, I believe we must move towards publicly financed federal elections. I will work vociferously towards this end if I am elected. If I am elected, I will not allow special interest money to sway my vote. I do not need their money. I do not want their money. If I am elected, I will fight to uphold the Constitution of the United States as it was intended to be upheld, for the people.