Assistant Senate Majority Leader Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) have introduced the Fair Elections Now Act (S.752) in the Senate, and Reps. John Larson (D-Conn.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) have done so in the House (H.R.1826) as well.

The Fair Elections Now Act would allow congressional candidates to run for office using only small donations and limited public financing. Candidates would qualify by raising a set number of small donations from members of their community, and agree to not raise any large contributions. Once qualified, they would receive limited public funds and would see their on-going small donations matched on a four-to-one basis.

The Fair Elections Now Act would allow federal candidates to spend more time focusing on the people they represent and addressing our nation's problems, rather than on raising money from wealthy donors and special interests.

To find our more, read "Breaking Free with Fair Elections" by Public Citizen. This publication makes the case for Congressional Fair Elections. Read about why the time is ripe; how the system works; the cost of the program; and the success of Clean Elections in the states. Published in March 2007. Read it here.