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Restoring the integrity of Congress is essential if the public is to regain trust in government, U.S. Representative-elect Cindy Axne said in Clarinda Saturday, Dec. 8.

During an appearance at J. Bruner’s, Axne said she would be supporting House Resolution 1 when the next Congress convenes in January.

Among other things, the measure would create procedures for automatic voter registration, require paper ballots, reduce partisan gerrymandering, require political groups to disclose donors, prohibit members of Congress from serving on corporate boards and mandate that presidents disclose their tax returns.

“This resolution would put transparency, accountability and ethics back in Congress,” said Axne, a Democrat who in November was elected representative from Iowa’s Third District. She defeated incumbent Republican David Young.

The measure, Axne added, would “help us push back against ‘dark money’’’ -- a term referring to election campaign contributions from sources that often cannot readily be determined.

“We need to oppose it and limit it,” Axne said. “We’re looking at opportunities to lower the amount of money that’s needed to actually win. We want to encourage more individual support, instead of corporate support.”