GOP wants system that favors the rich

Democrats in the House of Representatives approved a sweeping plan to reduce the influence of big money in politics, make it easier for people to register and vote, and require presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns. All 234 votes for the bill were by Democrats and all 193 votes against the bill were by Republicans. The Republican-controlled Senate will not bring up the bill.

Small donors would be empowered by having their contributions matched 6 to 1 by the government, which would dilute Republicans' usual advantage among big donors. The match would be for donations up to $200 to congressional and presidential candidates who rejected big donations.

Government matching funds mean contributions from all taxpayers. If the contributions amounted to just $10 yearly per person, it would total more than $6 billion over two years to fund federal election campaigns and would deliver a strong payback for ordinary people. Politicians would no longer be obligated to big donors. If we want government to work for everyone, then everyone must pay for campaigns. Those who pay the piper call the tune. Money talks. Follow the money.

Making it easier to register and vote and barring voter roll purges such as occurred in Georgia and Ohio help minorities who usually do not favor Republicans.

The 2017 Republican tax cut contained the largest one-time reduction in the corporate tax rate in U.S. history, from 3S to 21 percent. This amounts to about a $1 trillion tax cut for businesses over the next decade.

The Republican vote shows they want to maintain a rigged system that favors them and includes less, not more, participation and influence from ordinary people who are less likely to support them.

Richard Barsanti

Western Springs