Clean Money Clean Elections Bill Proposed in Senate
Just6dollars.org
Americans for Campaign Reform (ACR), who launched the “Just $6” grassroots movement for public funding, has announced its support for the Fair Elections Now Act that proposes voluntary public funding for all Senate races. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced the bipartisan legislation as a way to restore public confidence in the election process.
The legislation would create a voluntary system through which participating Senate candidates––those who establish their credibility by collecting enough qualifying contributions and who then pledge not to accept private contributions ––would receive public funds for primary and general elections. Participants would also be eligible for free media vouchers and discounted commercial advertising rates.
John Rauh, ACR’s founder and president, believes the bill is a well-crafted and common sense approach to returning control of our national agenda to voters. “Imagine how much stronger our democracy will be when we eliminate the influence of big money on our government. It’s high time that we fix the most fundamental flaw in the way we pick our leaders and enact voluntary public funding,” Rauh said.
Voluntary public funding is already working in Arizona and Maine, and was recently adopted by the Connecticut legislature.
According to calculations by ACR, all U.S. federal races – President, Senate and House – could be funded by our government for Just $6 per citizen per year, only a fraction of the taxpayer money wasted every year on projects that reward special interests and their lobbyists. “The great myth is that this is expensive. It is not,” Rauh added. “When you consider that ‘pork barrel’ projects cost every one of us nearly $200 in 2006 alone, it’s no contest.”
“What’s more,” says Rauh, “voluntary public funding is unlike most other campaign reforms–– its purpose is not to limit the use of private funds, but rather to provide public funds for candidates who qualify so that they too can communicate their perspectives and values to voters. With more competitive elections it we are likely to have a more substantive debate about issues among a greater variety of candidates.”
Former lawmakers, Senators Bill Bradley (D-N.J.), Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.), Warren Rudman (R-N.H.), and Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) serve as Honorary Chairs of ACR, which is committed to a nonpartisan approach to campaign reform.
“I believe the current private financing system for federal elections is fundamentally flawed,” Bradley said. “It encourages corruption and alienates our citizens. The solution is public financing.” Kerrey added, “I have seen how the current system limits electoral competition and distorts the public agenda. It demoralizes incumbents and challengers alike while increasing public suspicion that money buys access.”
“Clearly,” Rudman said, “it would be a mistake not to address the problems with our current system for financing federal elections. I have come to believe that it will take a fundamental change, and that voluntary public funding is now an imperative.”
Simpson said, “Incumbents find it eternally necessary to raise big bucks for their next election nearly every single day. It is not only demeaning but it took a large chunk of time that could have been devoted to doing the public’s business. The time is now to go to voluntary public funding.”