Economic Security & Affordability

A System for the People, Not Corporations

Campaign Finance Reform

Our democracy should work for the people - not for corporations, billionaires, or special interests.

• Eliminate Dark Money: We must pass laws that prevent corporations, PACs, and wealthy donors from secretly funding congressional campaigns. Transparency is essential so voters know who is influencing elected officials.
• Limit Big Money Influence: Establish strict limits on campaign contributions from corporations, PACs, and super PACs, ensuring elected officials are accountable to their constituents, not to shareholders.
• Public Financing of Campaigns: Expand publicly funded campaign programs so candidates can run competitive races without relying on corporate or wealthy donors.
• Enforce Ethics and Accountability: Create stronger oversight mechanisms for campaign finance violations, including enforceable penalties for corruption and conflicts of interest.

Congress members should be acting in the interest of the people. Not corporations or shareholders. Democracy only works when the voices of everyday Americans matter more than money in politics.

Fair Wages and Labor Rights: Workers deserve a fair share of the wealth they help create. Strengthen labor protections, support unionization, and raise the federal minimum wage to a living wage.

Corporate Tax Reform: Close loopholes that allow corporations to avoid paying their fair share and implement progressive corporate taxes that fund infrastructure, healthcare, and education.

Prevent Corporate Monopolies: Strengthen antitrust enforcement to break up monopolies, protect small businesses, and promote competitive markets.

Environmental Accountability: Corporations must take responsibility for their environmental impact, with strict enforcement of climate and pollution regulations and meaningful penalties for violations.

Transparency and Governance: Require disclosure of executive pay, political spending, and lobbying. Encourage worker representation on boards and tie executive compensation to long-term company performance and social responsibility.

Consumer Protection: Strengthen protections against predatory practices in finance, housing, healthcare, and technology.

Workers' Rights in the Modern Era Act

This legislation aims to modernize and strengthen workers' rights in response to the evolving labor market and economic landscape. Key ideas:

Hiring Process:

• Job listings must be updated monthly to show whether the position is open or closed, with the date of the last update.
• Candidates must be notified within two weeks if they are still being considered.
• Rejection or continued consideration must be communicated within two weeks of the final interview.
• Violations to hiring process regulations would result in compensation to candidates.

Offers of Employment:

• Right to Negotiate Pay: Candidates may negotiate their offers without risk of rescission. Employers can make a revised offer or maintain the original terms by mutual agreement.
• Reasonable Decision Window: Candidates must have seven days to accept or reject offers or counter-offers.
• Secure Offers: Once accepted, offers may not be rescinded unless the employee violates reasonable terms of employment.

Layoffs and Job Security:

• Profitable companies may not conduct mass layoffs.
• Mass layoffs are only permitted if a company is operating at a loss and has exhausted all other cost-saving measures, including pausing non-essential contracts and halting dividend payments.
• Companies may not conduct layoffs if they have executed stock buybacks within the past 365 days.
• In acquisitions, all employees must be retained for two years or provided with two years' severance pay. Violations can trigger regulatory penalties, including reversal of acquisition approval.