The majority of Americans care less about how much money is in politics than where the money comes from, according to a poll by researchers at UT released Monday.
The poll results and the importance of money in politics dominated a panel discussion Monday moderated by Evan Smith, chief executive officer and editor-in-chief of The Texas Tribune, a recently launched news Web site that focuses on Texas news and politics. The Internet poll, conducted by members of the UT Department of Government, surveyed 2,100 adults in mid-October on the relationship between money and politics.
Henry Bonilla, a panel member and former U.S. representative, said the political system is all about money and that reform needs to take place within the government as well as with the people.
“The American people have allowed the system to become almost a bottomless pit when it comes to money,” Bonilla said. “No one votes for anyone anymore based on conviction.”
Bonilla said money helps an official rise on the political ladder, but it’s not necessary.
“This system does allow for Americans to step up and run against incumbents,” he said.
“If they do it the right way, it can be done.”
Meredith McGehee, the policy director of the Campaign Legal Center, said the concern over the sources of money is understandable and legitimate.
“The reality is the federal government controls the ability to make millions and billions for certain individuals,” McGehee said. “When you have that much concentration of power in one place, people are going to figure out how to make that power work for them.”
She said the main problem is that people are under the impression that they need to use their money to buy their way into the system and that it has become somewhat of an expectation.
“It is too much of a situation where people who want something from the government feel like the only way to do it is to play the game,” McGehee said. “It’s a pay-to-play system.”
Kirk Rudy, a deputy national finance chairman for the Democratic National Committee, played a large role in raising money for Barack Obama’s campaign.
“It requires a lot of money to be in politics,” Rudy said. “We just all have to play with the hand we are dealt.”
He said the hundreds of thousands of dollars put into political campaigns are justified.
“There is a reason that so much money is spent of politics,” Rudy said. “It’s a very passionate thing for a lot of people, and people are willing to invest because they care about the country.”
Randy Erben, principal and attorney for Erben & Yarbrough, said the lack of total disclosure and transparency by political figures in the current system prevents it from working effectively.
“You are expected to donate to the candidates of your choice because you believe in good government,” Erben said. “If anybody ever gives money and thinks they can turn a vote, they’re nuts. At the end of the day, that congressman is going to vote in his district.”
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