Ben Wilcox
Ben Wilcox
arrogance best decisions past people rather seen session trust
I think we've seen in this session and in past sessions a kind of an arrogance from the legislature that they know best rather than the people. They don't trust the people to make decisions in their own interest.
drawing florida hoped opportunity people speak whether
We had hoped that the people of Florida would have an opportunity to speak on this question, whether they want self-interested politicians drawing their own districts. We just have to go back to the drawing board.
fooled hard hide imagine people voting
If it's being done just to hide their real vote, I don't think that's the way to go. I find it kind of hard to imagine that there would be that many people that would be fooled by it.
meet pay people
People are still going to meet in restaurants. They may just have to pay their own way.
behind campaigns cost encourage financing hold levels people public
The whole idea behind public financing was to hold down the cost of campaigns and encourage more people to participate. Now they've escalated campaign fund-raising to levels we've never seen.
businesses case good government governor helping ideas interest looking money people return shopping somebody spend willing
I just don't think businesses spend money like that just in the interest of good government and helping people get their ideas out. I think they're looking for a return on their investment. They're shopping in this case for a governor -- somebody willing to give them access.
campaign committees finance giving help hoping interests people power return special typical wealthy
It's kind of typical campaign finance in Florida. You find these wealthy special interests who are giving to committees and candidates, people with power to help them. . . . They're doing it as an investment, hoping for a return on their investment.
chance hands losers people power trying
The losers are the people of Florida. We were trying to get a chance to take some of the power away from the politicians and put it in the hands of the people.
amendment coming drawing gives guidelines pass
It gives us some guidelines for coming back and drawing an amendment that will pass the court's muster.
access basically buy candidate influence money principled supporting whoever
I think that's where you see the real use of money to buy influence because in this case, they're not even principled enough to be supporting one candidate over another. They just want to have access and influence with whoever wins. They're just basically hedging their bets.
attempt avenue believe campaign common deal finance interest serious special
I think it would be significant campaign finance reform. It would be a serious attempt to deal with what we believe is the most common avenue for special interest contributions.
allowed bush campaign financing florida funding meant money party public raised stopped
Bush raised money up to that level, then stopped and allowed the party to take over the funding of the campaign and the advertising. After that point, public financing in Florida has not really been doing what it was meant to do in the beginning.
benefit citizen directly due expected fact jobs leaves outside room standard weak wiggle
I would characterize the conflict-of-interest standard as pretty weak in the Legislature. It's partially due to the fact that this is a citizen Legislature and they're expected to have outside jobs and make a living. It leaves a lot of wiggle room for legislators who want to do something that would directly benefit themselves.
act citizens refuses
When the legislature refuses to act on an issue, citizens need to have some way to go around the legislature.