The one thing in our society that separates us from other cultures is the belief that everyone is equal regardless of how much money someone has. Many of us believe that, and many politicians use that concept especially around election time. Far too often after the elections we can see a trend where money can become a larger factor in our election process. It is a fact that the money required to run an election is jumping by leaps and bounds. Maybe it is our fault as voters that has caused this phenomena. Instead of educating ourselves on the issues and having the ability to ask relevant questions about those issues, we just look at the jingles and slick campaign adds. Money shouldn’t be the deciding factor in elections. In the next session of the legislature the money influence may be corrected.

State Rep. David Dank (R-Oklahoma City) will file a bill that will ban in-session legislative campaign contributions, prohibit shadowy transfers of campaign funds between political action committees and ban the use of campaign funds for personal use. Representative Dank was quoted as saying, "The people of Oklahoma deserve a clean campaign finance system, with tough laws to punish violators, It's time to remove the clouds that have formed over our Capitol from the actions of some in both parties and to assure that the process of raising money for political campaigns is open, honest and divorced from the legislative process."

This bill can have an impact on the status quo of Oklahoma politics. The bill would limit legislative contributions in any election cycle by an individual, lobbyist or family to a total of $40,000. That total could be spread among as many candidates as the donor chooses, but the total given would be capped. Under current law, a single lobbyist could contribute up to $700,000 in any election year. Prohibit contributions to incumbent legislators and candidates for the Legislature during the legislative session and for 15 days before and after the session. Prohibit the use of surplus campaign funds for personal purposes or donation to another candidate. This would prevent excess donations to term-limited legislators.