Simon Lee, a regional organizer for Common Cause, says public financing is the only way to stop absurd campaign costs. "The average cost to run a successful campaign in the House was $1.3 million. And for a Senate seat, the average cost was $7.5 million. In the last 3 election cycles prior to 2010, senatorial candidates spent a total of $1.3 billion. The total cost of all elections (local, state and federal) in 2008 was $3 billion. Once the numbers for the 2010 election come in, this figure will have undoubtedly risen yet higher. "The opportunity cost of our congresspersons spending this much time telemarketing to wealthy donors, lobbyists, special interest groups, labor unions and corporations cannot be overstated. All this time spent adding to campaign coffers takes away significantly from the work we elected our representatives to do." Lee argues that the Fair Elections Now Act, currently before Congress, would allow lawmakers running for reelection to focus on their constituents, and not big money special interests. To read the full article in the Bakersfield Californian, click here.