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ReFormers Caucus

Nearly 200 former members of Congress, governors, and Cabinet officials united to fix our broken political system

ReFormers Caucus Co-chairs

Connie Morella

Former Representative (R-MD)

Tim Roemer

Former Representative (D-IN) and Ambassador

Zach Wamp

Former Representative (R-TN)

Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus is the largest bipartisan coalition of its kind ever assembled to advocate for sweeping reforms to fix our broken political system

Guiding Principles of the ReFormers Caucus:

  • Disclosure & Transparency. Real-time disclosure of all political contributions and expenditures.
  • Effective Enforcement. Hold candidates, legislators and organizations accountable if they break the law.
  • Ethics & Lobbying. Reform the connection between lobbying and campaign contributions to reduce conflicts of interest.
  • Participation. Support innovative solutions that improve civic participation and amplify the voices of small donors.
  • Integrity & Accountability. Push for a Congress responsive to citizens and constituents.

Reformers by the Numbers

19 Governors

10 Ambassadors

10 Cabinet Secretaries

197 Total Members

Featured Work

The Members

CA OR WA ID MT WY HI AK UT CO NM AZ KS OK NE SD ND MN IA MO AR LA MS AL GA FL SC NC VA TN KY IN MI IL WI OH WV PA NY ME VT NH TX NV MA RI CT NJ DE MD

A

  • Rep. Jason Altmire
    Congressman (D-PA 2007-2013)
  • Rep. Chester Atkins
    Congressman (D-MA 1985-1993)
  • Rep. Les Aucoin
    Congressman (D-OR 1975-1993)

B

  • Sec. Bruce Babbitt
    Secretary of the Interior (1993-2001); Governor (D-AZ 1978-1987
  • Rep. Brian Baird
    Congressman (D-WA 1999-2011)
  • Rep. Michael Barnes
    Congressman (D-MD 1979-1987)
  • Rep. J. Gresham Barrett
    Congressman (R-SC 2003-2011)
  • Rep. Joe Barton
    Congressman (R-TX 1985-2019)
  • Rep. Charles Bass
    Congressman (R-NH 1995-2007, 2011-2013)
  • Rep. Bob Beauprez
    Congressman (R-CO 2003-2007)
  • Sen. Mark Begich
    Senator (D-AK 2009-2015)
  • Rep. Doug Bereuter
    Congressman (R-NE 1979-2004)
  • Rep. Brian Bilbray
    Congressman (R-CA 1995-2001, 2006-2013)
  • Sen. Jeff Bingaman
    Senator (D-NM 1983-2013)
  • Gov. James Blanchard
    United States Ambassador to Canada (1993-1996); Governor (D-MI 1983-1991); Congressman (D-MI 1975-1983)
  • Rep. David Bonior
    Congressman (D-MI 1977-2003)
  • Rep. Don Bonker
    Congressman (D-WA 1975-1989)
  • Rep. Jo Bonner
    Congressman (R-AL 2003-2013)
  • Rep. Charles Boustany
    Congressman (R-LA 2005-2017)
  • Sen. Bill Bradley
    Senator (D-NJ 1979-1997)

C

  • Rep. Tom Campbell
    Congressman (R-CA 1989-1993, 1995-2001)
  • Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell
    Senator (R-CO 1993-2005); Congressman (D-CO 1987-1993)
  • Rep. Joseph Cao
    Congressman (R-LA 2009-2011)
  • Gov. John Carlin
    Governor (D-KS 1979-1987)
  • Gov. Arne Carlson
    Governor (R-MN 1991-1999)
  • Rep. Russ Carnahan
    Congressman (D-MO 2005-2013)
  • Rep. Robert Carr
    Congressman (D-MI 1975-1981, 1983-1995)
  • Gov. Michael Castle
    Governor (R-DE 1985-1992); Congressman (R-DE 1993-2011)
  • Rep. John Cavanaugh
    Congressman (D-NE 1977-1981)
  • Rep. Ben Chandler
    Congressman (D-KY 2004-2013)
  • Rep. Ron Chandler
    Congressman (R-WA 1983-1993)
  • Rep. Jon Christensen
    Congressman (R-NE 1995-1999)
  • Rep. Bob Clement
    Congressman (D-TN 1988-2003)
  • Sec. William Cohen
    Secretary of Defense (1997-2001); Senator (R-ME 1979-1997); Congressman (R-ME 1973-1979)
  • Rep. Tom Coleman
    Congressman (R-MO 1976-1993)
  • Rep. Barbara Comstock
    Congresswoman (R-VA 2015-2019)
  • Sen. Kent Conrad
    Senator (D-ND 1987-2013)
  • Rep. Sam Coppersmith
    Congressman (D-AZ 1993-1995)
  • Rep. Jerry Costello
    Congressman (D-IL 1988-2013)
  • Rep Carlos Curbelo
    Congressman (R-FL 2015-2019)

D

  • Amb. John Danforth
    United States Ambassador to the United Nations (2004-2005), Senator (R-MO 1976-1995)
  • Rep. George Darden
    Congressman (D-GA 1983-1995)
  • Sen. Tom Daschle
    Senator (D-SD 1987-2005); Senate Majority Leader (2001-2003), Congressman (D-SD 1979-1987)
  • Rep. Hal Daub
    Congressman (R-NE 1981-1989)
  • Rep. Jim Davis
    Congressman (D-FL 1997-2007)
  • Rep. Lincoln Davis
    Congressman (D-TN 2003-2011)
  • Rep. Tom Davis
    Congressman (R-VA 1995-2008)
  • Rep Charlie Dent
    Congressman (R-PA 2005-2018)
  • Rep. Charles Djou
    Congressman (R-HI 2010-2011)
  • Sen. Chris Dodd
    Senator (D-CT 1981-2011); Congressman (D-CT 1975-1981)
  • Sen. Joe Donnelly
    Senator (D-IN 2013-2019); Congressman (D-IN 2007-2013)
  • Sen. Byron Dorgan
    Senator (D-ND 1992-2011), Congressman (D-ND 1981-1992)
  • Rep. Tom Downey
    Congressman (D-NY 1975-1993)
  • Gov. Michael Dukakis
    Governor (D-MA 1983-1991, 1975-1979)
  • Sen. David Durenberger
    Senator (R-MN 1978-1995)

E

  • Rep. Donna Edwards
    Congresswoman (D-MD 2008-2017)
  • Rep. David Emery
    Congressman (R-ME 1975-1983)
  • Rep. Karan English
    Congresswoman (D-AZ 1993-1995)
  • Rep. Elizabeth Esty
    Congresswoman (D-CT 2013-2019)
  • Rep. Thomas Evans, Jr.
    Congressman (R-DE 1977-1983)

F

  • Rep. Victor Fazio
    Congressman (D-CA 1979-1999)
  • Sen. Russ Feingold
    Senator (D-WI 1993-2011)
  • Rep. Stephen Fincher
    Congressman (R-TN 2011-2017)
  • Rep. Harold Ford, Jr.
    Congressman (D-TN 1997-2007)
  • Amb. Wyche Fowler
    United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (1996-2001); Senator (D-GA 1987-1993); Congressman (D-GA 1977-1987)
  • Rep. Martin Frost
    Congressman (D-TX 1979-2005)

G

  • Rep. Richard Gephardt
    Congressman (D-MO 1977-2005)
  • Rep. Jim Gerlach
    Congressman (R-PA 2003-2015)
  • Rep. Wayne Gilchrest
    Congressman (R-MD 1991-2009)
  • Rep. Phil Gingrey
    Congressman (R-GA 2003-2015)
  • Sec. Dan Glickman
    Secretary of Agriculture (1995-2001); Congressman (D-KS 1977-1995)
  • Rep. Bart Gordon
    Congressman (D-TN 1985-2011)
  • Dir. Porter Goss
    Director of the CIA (2004-2006); Congressman (R-FL 1989-2004)
  • Rep. Gene Green
    Congressman (D-TX 1993-2019)
  • Rep. Jim Greenwood
    Congressman (R-PA 1993-2005)
  • Rep. Steve Gunderson
    Congressman (R-WI 1981-1997)

H

  • Sec. Chuck Hagel
    Secretary of Defense (2013-2015); Senator (R-NE 1997-2009)
  • Rep. Lee Hamilton
    Congressman (D-IN 1965-1999); Member, 9/11 Commission (2002-2004)
  • Rep. Jane Harman
    Congresswoman (D-CA 1993-1999, 2001-2011)
  • Rep. Michael Harrington
    Congressman (D-MA 1969-1979)
  • Sen. Gary Hart
    Senator (D-CO 1975-1987)
  • Rep. Joseph Heck
    Congressman (R-NV 2011-2017)
  • Rep. Joel Hefley
    Congressman (R-CO 1987-2007)
  • Rep. Dennis Hertel
    Congressman (D-MI 1981-1993)
  • Rep. Paul Hodes
    Congressman (D-NH 2007-2011)
  • Rep. Rush Holt, Jr.
    Congressman (D-NJ 1999-2015)
  • Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman
    Congresswoman (D-NY 1973-1981)
  • Rep. Darlene Hooley
    Congresswomen (D-OR 1997-2009)
  • Rep. Jerry Huckaby
    Congressman (D-LA 1977-1993)
  • Rep. Randy Hultgren
    Congressman (R-IL 2011-2019)
  • Gov. Jim Hunt
    Governor (D-NC 1977-1985, 1993-2001)
  • Sen. Tim Hutchinson
    Senator (R-AR 1997-2003); Congressman (R-Ar 1993-1997)

I

  • Rep. Robert Inglis, Sr.
    Congressman (R-SC 1993-1999, 2005-2011)
  • Rep. Steve Israel
    Congressman (D-NY 2001-2017)

J

  • Rep. Tim V. Johnson
    Congressman (R-IL 2001-2013)
  • Sen. J. Bennett Johnston
    Senator (D-LA 1972-1997)
  • Rep. David Jolly
    Congressman (R-FL 2014-2017)
  • Amb. Jim Jones
    United States Ambassador to Mexico (1993-1997); Congressman (D-OK 1973-1987)

K

  • Sen. Nancy Kassebaum Baker
    Senator (R-KS 1978-1997)
  • Gov. Thomas Kean, Sr.
    Governor (R-NJ 1982-1990); Chairman, 9/11 Commission (2002-2004)
  • Rep. Barbara Kennelly
    Congresswoman (D-CT 1982-1999)
  • Sen. Bob Kerrey
    Senator (D-NE 1989-2001); Governor (D-NE 1983-1987); Member, 9/11 Commission (2002-2004)
  • Rep. Ron Klein
    Congressman (D-FL 2007-2011)
  • Rep. Jim Kolbe
    Congressman (R-AZ 1985-2007)
  • Rep. Mike Kopetski
    Congressman (D-OR 1991-1995)
  • Rep. Peter Kostmayer
    Congressman (D-PA 1977-1981, 1983-1993)
  • Amb. Madeleine Kunin
    U.S. Ambassador To Switzerland (1996-1999); Governor (D-VT 1985-1991)
  • Rep. Steve Kuykendall
    Congressman (R-CA 1999-2001)

L

  • Sec. Ray LaHood
    Secretary of Transportation (2009-2013); Congressman (R-IL 1995-2009)
  • Rep. Martin Lancaster
    Congressman (D-NC 1987-1995)
  • Sen. Mary Landrieu
    Senator (D-LA 1997-2015)
  • Rep. Larry LaRocco
    Congressman (D-ID 1991-1995)
  • Rep Rick Lazio
    Congressman (R-NY 1993-2001)
  • Rep. Jim Leach
    Congressman (R-IA 1977-2007)
  • Rep. John LeBoutillier
    Congressman (R-NY 1981-1983)
  • Rep. Sandy Levin
    Congressman (D-MI 1983-2019)
  • Rep. Mel Levine
    Congressman (D-CA 1983-1993)
  • Sen. Blanche Lincoln
    Senator (D-AR 1999-2011); Congresswoman (D-AR 1993-1997)
  • Rep. Bob Livingston
    Congressman (R-LA 1977-1999)
  • Sen. Trent Lott
    Senator (R-MS 1989-2007); Senate Majority Leader (1996-2001); Senate Minority Leader (2001-2003); Congressman (R-MS 1973-1989)
  • Rep. Dan Lungren
    Congressman (R-CA 1979-1989, 2005-2013)

M

  • Rep. Dan Maffei
    Congressman (D-NY 2009-2011, 2013-2015)
  • Rep. Andrew Maguire
    Congressman (D-NJ 1975-1981)
  • Rep. Marjorie Margolies
    Congresswoman (D-PA 1993-1995)
  • Rep. Pete McCloskey
    Congressman (R-CA 1967-1983)
  • Sec. John McHugh
    Secretary of the Army (2009-2015); Congressman (R-NY 1993-2009)
  • Rep. Matthew McHugh
    Congressman (D-NY 1975-1993)
  • Gov. John McKernan
    Governor (R-ME 1987-1995); Congressman (R-ME 1983-1987)
  • Rep. Tom McMillen
    Congressman (D-MD 1987-1993)
  • Rep. Brad Miller
    Congressman (D-NC 2003-2013)
  • Rep. George Miller
    Congressman (D-CA 1975-2015)
  • Sec. Norman Mineta
    Secretary of Transportation (2001-2006); Secretary of Commerce (2000-2001); Congressman (D-CA 1975-1995); Mayor, San Jose, CA (1971-1975)
  • Rep. Susan Molinari
    Congresswoman (R-NY 1990-1997)
  • Rep. Jim Moran
    Congressman (D-VA 1991-2015)
  • Amb. Connie Morella
    Ambassador to OECD (2003-2007); Congresswoman (R-MD 1987-2003)
  • Amb. Carol Moseley-Braun
    Ambassador to New Zealand (1999-2001); Ambassador to Samoa (2000-2001); Senator (D-IL 1993-1999)
  • Rep. Patrick Murphy
    Congressman (D-FL 2013-2017)
  • Rep. Patrick J. Murphy
    Congressman (D-PA 2007-2011); Under Secretary of the Army (2016-2017); Acting Secretary of the Army (January 2016-May 2016)
  • Rep. Sue Myrick
    Congresswoman (R-NC 1995-2013); Mayor, Charlotte, NC (1987-1991)

N

  • Rep. George Nethercutt
    Congressman (R-WA 1995-2005)
  • Rep. Glenn Nye
    Congressman (D-VA 2009-2011)

O

  • Rep. Tom Osborne
    Congressman (R-NE 2001-2007)
  • Rep. Richard Ottinger
    Congressman (D-NY 1965-1971, 1975-1985)

P

  • Sec. Leon Panetta
    Secretary of Defense (2011-2013); Director of the CIA (2009-2011); Congressman (D-CA 1977-1993)
  • Gov. Deval Patrick
    Governor (D-MA 2007-2015); Assistant Attorney General (1994-1997)
  • Rep. Tom Petri
    Congressman (R-WI 1979-2015)
  • Rep. Todd Platts
    Congressman (R-PA 2001-2013)
  • Rep. Earl Pomeroy
    Congressman (D-ND 1993-2011)
  • Rep. John Edward Porter
    Congressman (R-IL 1980-2001)
  • Rep. Jon Porter
    Congressman (R-NV 2003-2009)
  • Sen. Larry Pressler
    Senator (R-SD 1979-1997); Congressman (R-SD 1975-1979)
  • Rep. Deborah Pryce
    Congresswoman (R-OH 1993-2009)
  • Sen. Mark Pryor
    Senator (D-AR 2003-2015)

Q

  • Rep. Jack Quinn
    Congressman (R-NY 1993-2005)

R

  • Rep. Reid Ribble
    Congressman (R-WI 2011-2017)
  • Gov. Tom Ridge
    Secretary of Homeland Security (2003-2005); Governor (R-PA 1995-2001); Congressman (R-PA 1983-1995)
  • Gov. Bill Ritter
    Governor (D-CO 2007-2011)
  • Amb. Tim Roemer
    Congressman (D-IN 1991-2003); U.S. Ambassador to India (2009-2011); Member, 9/11 Commission (2002-2004)
  • Gov. Roy Romer
    Governor (D-CO 1987-1999)

S

  • Rep. Ron Sarasin
    Congressman (R-CT 1973-1979)
  • Rep. Bill Sarpalius
    Congressman (D-TX 1989-1995)
  • Amb. Jim Sasser
    U.S. Ambassador to China (1996-1999); Senator (D-TN 1977-1995)
  • Sec. Ed Schafer
    Secretary of Agriculture (2008-2009); Governor (R-ND 1992-2000)
  • Rep. Claudine Schneider
    Congresswoman (R-RI 1981-1991)
  • Rep. Patricia Schroeder
    Congresswoman (D-CO 1973-1997)
  • Rep. Joe Schwarz
    Congressman (R-MI 2005-2007)
  • Rep. Philip Sharp
    Congressman (D-IN 1975-1995)
  • Rep. Chris Shays
    Congressman (R-CT 1987-2009)
  • Rep. Karen Shepherd
    Congresswoman (D-UT 1993-1995)
  • Rep. Gerry Sikorski
    Congressman (D-MN 1983-1993)
  • Sen. Alan Simpson
    Senator (R-WY 1979-1997); Senate Republican Whip (1985-1995); Chairperson, National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (2010)
  • Rep. David Skaggs
    Congressman (D-CO 1987-1999)
  • Rep. Jim Slattery
    Congressman (D-KS 1983-1995)
  • Rep. Peter Smith
    Congressman (R-VT 1989-1991)
  • Sen. Olympia Snowe
    Senator (R-ME 1995-2013); Congresswoman (R-ME 1979-1995)
  • Rep. John Spratt, Jr.
    Congressman (D-SC 1983-2011)
  • Rep. Cliff Stearns
    Congressman (R-FL 1989-2013)
  • Rep. Charles Stenholm
    Congressman (D-TX 1979-2005)
  • Rep. Bart Stupak
    Congressman (D-MI 1993-2011)
  • Amb. Richard Swett
    U.S. Ambassador to Denmark (1998-2001); Congressman (D-NH 1991-1995)

T

  • Gov. Bob Taft
    Governor (R-OH 1999-2007)
  • Rep. Robin Tallon
    Congressman (D-SC 1983-1993)
  • Rep. John Tanner
    Congressman (D-TN 1989-2011)
  • Rep. Lee Terry
    Congressman (R-NE 1999-2015)
  • Rep. Karen Thurman
    Congresswoman (D-FL 1993-2003)
  • Rep. Todd Tiahrt
    Congressman (R-KS 1995-2011)
  • Rep. John Tierney
    Congressman (D-MA 1997-2015)

U

  • Sen. Mark Udall
    Senator (D-CO 2009-2015); Congressman (D-CO 1999-2009)

W

  • Rep. Bob Walker
    Congressman (R-PA 1977-1997)
  • Rep. Zach Wamp
    Congressman (R-TN 1995-2011)
  • Rep. Henry Waxman
    Congressman (D-CA 1975-2015)
  • Gov. Christine Todd Whitman
    Governor (R-NJ 1994-2001); Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (2001-2003)
  • Rep. Pat Williams
    Congressman (D-MT 1979-1997)
  • Sen. Tim Wirth
    Senator (D-CO 1987-1993); Congressman (D-CO 1975-1987)
  • Gov. Robert Wise
    Governor (D-WV 2001-2005); Congressman (D-WV 1983-2001)
  • Rep. Lynn Woolsey
    Congresswoman (D-CA 1993-2013)

ReFormers on the Record

Ending the tyranny of big money corruption isn’t partisan — it’s patriotic. It’s essential to preserving the most deeply held values and beliefs we share. Sen. Alan Simpson (R-WY), Sen. Bill Bradley (D-NJ) and Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-NE)
Democracy requires constant vigilance. When the interests of major campaign donors and their allies are favored over the needs of ordinary citizens, we all pay the price. Rep. Connie Morella (R-MD) and Rep. Dan Glickman (D-KS)
The money-in-politics problem has gotten much worse...[and] we all pay a price for maintaining such a system. Sen. Larry Pressler (R-SD)
The problem is not ideological or partisan. It affects the left and the right, Democrats and Republicans equally, and is costing the taxpayer and driving away many talented public servants. Ambassador Tim Roemer (D-IN)

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