Yee just a small part of a much larger problem
By Eileen Sargent, Letter to the Editor
One of the most shocking parts of the scandal surrounding
Sen. Leland Yee is that his pay-to-play approach to
politics is legal and widespread ("Bills helped Yee line
coffers," Page 1A, April 20). Our campaign finance laws
create a system where special interests and the super rich
enjoy outsize influence while ordinary citizens are
ignored. Yee is just one small part of a much larger
problem.
This system of legalized corruption has to stop. I'm
grateful that two Bay Area senators, Sen. Mark Leno and
Sen. Jerry Hill, are working to pass the California
DISCLOSE Act, SB 52, to require political ads to list their
top three funders. We deserve to know the special interests
trying to buy our politicians and write our laws. It's just
common sense.
Eileen Sargent
San Jose
See the article on San Jose Mercury News website