“This is a great step by an organization with a rich history of promoting democracy in America,” said Nick Nyhart, Executive Director of Public Campaign. “The NAACP’s support of fundamental, meaningful campaign finance reform, such as the Clean Money, Clean Elections laws already in effect in four states, is a great boost to our efforts to restore integrity to government and level the playing field.”

The NAACP's action was prompted by the efforts of the Fannie Lou Hamer Project (www.flhp.org), a group founded in 1999 that is calling on us to measure reform proposals by whether they make the system fairer for someone like Hamer-a civil rights activist from Mississippi, a poor woman of color, a stranger in the halls of power, but someone with a vision and a passion for public service. The "Fannie Lou Hamer standard" asks that we aim for reforms that not only serve to reduce corruption or the perception of corruption in the political process, but that enhance political equality for all.

Clean Money, Clean Elections is a comprehensive system that addresses both hard and soft money contributions, by providing public funds and eliminating the need for candidates to depend on special interest contributions. Maine, Arizona, Massachusetts and Vermont all have Clean Money, Clean Elections systems in law. Similar legislation has been introduced on the federal level by Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and Representative John Tierney (D-MA) with over 50 co-sponsors.

Public Campaign, founded in 1997, advocates Clean Money, Clean Elections legislation which provides full voluntary public financing for candidates who agree to spending caps and to forego raising private donations.