Rep. David Price (D-NC), Rep. Chris Shays (R-CT), Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA) and Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) have introduced a bill designed to reinvigorate the presidential public financing system by more than doubling the amount of money candidates could receive in the primary and general elections. The legislation, designed to take effect in the 2012 presidential race would continue to fund the program through check offs on tax forms, but raise both the amount directed by those check-offs and the amount of public funds matched to the contributions that candidates using the public financing system recieve. Rep. Price made the following statement on the bill's introduction: "There may be some out there who are already sounding the death knell for the public financing system [. . .] But for the sake of free and fair elections, we can't let it die on our watch. What it needs is a shot in the arm, not a funeral."  Sen. Feingold echoed those sentiments:  "This legislation is a small but necessary investment to protect our democracy and preserve the integrity of our presidential elections [. . .] The American people do not want to see a return to the pre-Watergate days of unlimited spending on presidential elections and candidates entirely beholden to private donors. We must act now to ensure the fairness of our elections and the confidence of our citizens in the process by repairing the cornerstone of the Watergate reforms."  It's good to see energy towards revamping the presidential public financing system and retaining spirit in which it was created -- needed now perhaps more than ever.