Though his fundraising prowess and mastery of the current campaign finance system has helped him to his powerful position, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) realizes the existing campaign finance system no longer works to the greatest benefit. From his vantage point, the current system’s drawbacks outweigh its advantages. His ability to legislate – to produce the policies he most desires – is hamstrung by the steadily increasing demands that fundraising places upon the members of his caucus. These beliefs led him to become the lead Senate sponsor of the Fair Elections Now Act (S. 752), which would institute public financing for congressional races.

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the introduction of the Fair Elections Now Act (H.R. 1826, S. 752) in Congress.

The New York Times editorializes on the escalating price of campaigning and the need to pass the Fair Elections Now Act.

Speaking about the Fair Elections Now Act at a forum at the Center for American Progress, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) commented that President Lyndon Johnson wouldn't have been able to pass Medicare in today's political climate.

To watch the video footage, click here.

A recent editorial in the New Jersey Star-Ledger presents the Fair Elections Now Act as a needed reform and urges readers to call on their Congressperson to support the legislation.

Sen. Dick Durbin, the lead sponsor of the Fair Elections Now Act in the Senate, went on Bill Moyers Journal to discuss his issues with the banking industry and his efforts to create a public financing system for congressional campaigns.