You sometimes have to wonder who the U.S. federal government is serving, the nation or the world.
Axios is reporting that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has passed down a ruling that allows foreign entities, whether as individuals or groups, to be able to donate and “finance U.S. referendum campaigns” that could influence actual American voters in their decisions on policy.
According to Axios:
Foreign nationals are barred from donating to U.S. political candidates or committees. But the FEC's decision — allowing them to support ballot committees — provides another avenue for foreigners to directly influence U.S. voters and domestic policy[…]
The decision only concerns federal law; states remain free to outlaw foreign funding for state-registered ballot committees.
Okay, that’s a good thing that the states can still “outlaw” such practices, but how many will once they see the money coming in? After all, the vast majority of politicians are driven by money, power and influence.
To that point, Axios pointed out that Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) recently vetoed legislation that would’ve banned “foreign ballot measure funding.”
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think that foreigners — people who are not U.S. citizens — should be bankrolling what could potentially lead to anti-American positions on how we conduct policy in our country.
That would be like an American donating to political causes that could influence policy decisions in (insert country not named the United States of America here).
Does no one see the conflict of interest here? Again, maybe I’m the only one.