Campaign Finance Reform
After the election debacle in 2000, the Florida legislature responded quickly with election reform, providing the necessary resources and training for each of its 67 counties to upgrade voter machines. The 2002 legislature expanded these reforms to all voters by greatly enhancing voter accessibility for Florida’s disabled citizens, and expanding early voting options.
Unfortunately, the Florida legislature has not been so quick to reform Florida’s campaign finance system. Florida’s election laws do impose limits and require disclosure. However, these limits and disclosure requirements apply only to individual candidates and not to political parties or independent organizations who can use unlimited funds in certain circumstances, without disclosure, as long as the expenditures are considered to be independent.
Rep. Ausley has consistently supported legislation which would address these two issues in an important step towards the type of real campaign finance reform that is needed to restore confidence in politics and government. Rep. Ausley is committed to real reform and will continue to work towards these efforts.
The 2005 legislature limited early voting options, and significantly increased the amount of dollars going towards statewide campaigns by raising the public financing cap to $20 million for candidates for Governor, and $10 million for candidates for other statewide offices. Rep. Ausley opposed these efforts.
REDISTRICTING: An Issue of Fairness
Rep. Ausley is committed to changing the way that the legislative districts are drawn. Currently, the Florida legislature draws the districts for the Florida House and Senate, as well as the Florida Congressional Delegation every ten years following the census. While these districts are based on population and demographics, Rep. Ausley believes that Floridians would be better served if these districts were drawn by an independent commission. Creating an independent commission would require a constitutional amendment. For more information, or to sign a petition online go to www.fairrepresentation.com