Senators

THE PROBLEM

The cost of running for a seat in the Senate costs from $750,000 to $50 million, depending on the size of the State the seat represents.

When it comes to winning a Senate race, the advantages of money and incumbency are clear. In 2002, fewer than ten percent of candidates won a race without these advantages.

In other words, to win a race, a Senate candidate has to raise millions of dollars, but once he gets in he has a good chance of staying in.  Once in office, a Senator has such power that giant corporations stand in line to give money to their campaign chests. Then they send lobbyists to ask the Senator to pass laws that will favor those corporations.  Our nation is being purchased by giant corporations.

Before 1913, Senators were appointed by Governors or elected by state legislatures. They represented the states. In 1913 a Constitutional Amendment was passed that said that Senators should be elected by the people, effectively creating TWO Houses of Representatives.

Since then the power and size and cost of federal government has increased a hundred-fold.

THE SOLUTION

Repeal the 1913 Amendment.  Senators should be elected by their State Legislatures.  They would no longer have to raise millions of dollars to run for office. They would no longer be beholden to giant corporations.  If they got out of line, the state legislature could jerk them home overnight.

Once again the National Government would be balanced.  The Executive representing the Federal Government, the House representing the People an the Senate representing the States..