As the field for the primary elections narrows, only one remaining presidential hopeful has introduced detailed platforms related to transparency in politics. While Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, Jr. have outlined their general views on government ethics and transparency reform, neither has released detailed positions on the issue. Joe Biden, on the other hand, has publicized various proposals for reforms to federal ethics legislation relevant to financial disclosures.
A Commission on Federal Ethics that enforces federal ethics law serves as a cornerstone of Joe Biden’s policy proposals. This commission would establish a single agency to oversee and enforce anti-corruption and ethics laws. Currently an assortment of mandates and agencies oversees federal ethics legislation, resulting in a lack of statutory authority and compliance. In addition to centralizing federal ethics legislation oversight and enforcement, this new agency would also expand the accessibility of public data tracking campaign contributions and lobbyist behavior.
