One simple way to start campaign finance reform

Jim Bacon, North Las Vegas

Monday, May 24, 2010 | 2:02 a.m.

One issue that few politicians want to deal with is campaign reform law. Every election we hear people complain that it is the “deep pockets” that decide who wins the race. There is some truth to this, as evidenced by the extremes that candidates will go to in order to raise money, especially when a national office is involved. One has only to look at the donation declarations to see that candidates range far and wide to gather funds.

Much of this could be reduced by simply limiting a candidate’s source of funding to the district they are running in. Why should a person running for, say, senator in Nevada be raising funds in California? Just whose interests will that person have in mind if a substantial amount, if not the majority, of their funding comes from outside the district?

We already have the sensible rule that no foreign donations can be accepted. I think that the principle behind this rule should be extended down the political ladder as far as possible.