WILLIAMSTOWN – A former Williamstown businessman and selectman now living in Tucson, Ariz., has filed a lawsuit charging that senators and representatives who take out-of-state, or out-of-district, contributions are in conflict of interest.
Saying his lawsuit wants to restore power to “We The People,†Chester P. Soling said Tuesday that he aims to plug a loophole in the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance law that lets non-constituents gain influence by donating to candidates in many districts and states.
Soling sued Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and other Arizona politicians and candidates in federal court in Tucson on June 21. The suit maintains that officials who accept contributions from contributors outside their state or district violate their duty to represent only those who elect them and are thus in conflict of interest.
“Elected officials should not take money from people or entities that they don’t represent – entities that have self-serving agendas that often diverge widely from that of the voters,†Soling said. “I’m doing what I can as an American citizen to help get our country back on track.â€
According to Soling, the Constitution specifies that the election of members of Congress “is an action of the individual states.â€
“That is obvious, for each state makes its own election laws and conducts its own elections,†he wrote in an e-mail Tuesday. “So my question is, why can anyone in another election district or state have a direct say in who the electorate of the district elects. Money is power. You can’t run for office without an adequate source of funds. So when a wealthy person in another state or district donates money to someone running elsewhere, they are not doing that because they like the candidate’s looks. They want to see that person elected to office.â€
In effect, he said, this practice gives the person an extra say, or even an extra vote, while the voters in the district go unheeded, especially after the congressman gets elected. The congressman opens his office to the high roller, not to the ordinary voters, Soling charged.
“In this way, we are saying loud and clear, Mr./Mrs. Congressman, represent those who elect you, not those who support you!†Soling wrote. “They are directly violating their oath of office, and that is to be a surrogate and represent those who vote for you. In other words, my cause is to bring back the power to We The People, not we the money. And, hey, I get nothing out of this but satisfaction.â€
In a story in The New York Times last month, Soling said the Founding Fathers would be “despondent†over the role of money in politics, which is not in keeping with the spirit of a republic.
Soling has launched the Web site www.CongressAbuse.com that contains information about the lawsuit and to contribute to the cause.
“I urge all Americans who care about the future of our country to go to our site and contribute what they can so that we can take this case all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary,†he said.
Soling’s lawyer, Leon Silver of the law firm Keller Rohrback P.L.C., was quoted in The New York Times story as saying Soling wants an injunction to level the playing field and to return the government to the people as the framers of the Constitution intended.
Soling maintains that congressional hearings after the 1998 elections found that senators and congressmen often act from obligation to those who donate the most money to their campaigns. His action would also restrict rich candidates from running for Congress on their own funds, setting the same limit of $2,000 that other contributors face.
Soling, a former real estate and Wall Street business executive who owned a seat on the American Exchange and who built The Orchards in Williamstown, has long been active in public betterment. In addition to serving as a selectman in Williamstown, he was a board member of the League of Women Voters and on the Board of Trustees of Syracuse University, of which he is an alumnus.
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Governor Healey Signs Breast Cancer Screening Bill
BOSTON — Today, Governor Maura Healey signed An Act Relative to Medically Necessary Breast Screenings and Exams for Equity and Early Detection.
This comprehensive legislation will ensure that patients have access to follow-up breast cancer screenings and exams, while also preventing any increase in patient cost-sharing by 2026.
"We know that early detection of breast cancer saves lives. This legislation will help ensure that cost is not a barrier for women to get the screenings and care they need," said Governor Healey. "I'm grateful to the Legislature for their leadership on this bill, and to the patients, providers and advocates who made their voices heard in support of more affordable and accessible care for Massachusetts residents."
This legislation would, starting in 2026, require insurers to cover diagnostic exams for breast cancer, digital breast tomosynthesis screening, and medically necessary and appropriate screening with breast MRIs and ultrasounds. This legislation would also prevent any increase in patient cost-sharing, thus removing cost barriers for patients who need more rigorous screenings due to dense breast tissue or abnormalities seen in their initial preventive screening mammograms.
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