Americans understand that the core issues confronting the nation are inextricably linked to money in politics. Members of Congress who want to tackle Wall Street's failure, the lack of access for all to health insurance, and the broken energy policy are forced to spend a significant amount of their time raising money from the very industries which have something to gain or lose in each of these debates.

This week, a set of bipartisan bills that would fundamentally transform Congressional fundraising will be introduced in both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate. If adopted, these bills – called “Fair Elections Now” – would significantly alter Congressional leaders’ day-to-day activities, releasing them from the confines of campaign fundraising to better spend their time on issues important to their constituencies.

Sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Representatives John Larson (D-Conn.) and Walter Jones, Jr. (R-N.C.), this major new legislative initiative is a direct response to the country’s first $5 billion election cycle and the recent revelations of the influence of special interests on our country’s economic policies.

How the “Fair Elections Now” Bills Would Work
House and Senate candidates would raise a large number of small contributions from their home states in order to qualify for enough Fair Elections funding to run a competitive race. After qualifying, small donations, up to $100, would be matched on a four-to-one basis, up to a ceiling at which matching funds would no longer be dispersed. Candidates would be permitted to collect an unlimited number of $100 contributions from individuals. The proposal covers both primary and general elections. The funding for the proposal comes from a small fee assessed on companies receiving sizable government contracts.

State Successes
The Fair Elections Now Act makes use of key elements of successful state programs in Arizona, Connecticut, Maine and North Carolina. Several states are considering similar proposals at this time. Under these state laws, nearly 400 elected officials took office this January. Eight of the 11 statewide candidates n Arizona were elected under their state’s law, and roughly five in six lawmakers in both Maine and Connecticut were elected without relying on big money contributions. Candidates and voters from both major parties have embraced these laws as a marked improvement over the private financing of elections

A Groundswell of Support
Beyond Sen. Durbin, Sen. Specter, and Rep. Larson, additional original sponsors from both parties are expected. The bills have garnered the active support of the entire campaign finance reform community, major nonprofit advocacy groups, labor unions, and leaders from the business world.

In this critical moment of populist outrage, Americans want to know that their elected officials to work for them and are not beholden to lobbyists and special interests. As stories of bail-out funds being spent on bonuses and campaign contributions sweep the nation, public support for the bills is strong. The concepts in the proposals are supported across party, demographic and regional lines. Bipartisan polling conducted in February by the Tarrance Group and Lake Research Partners showed 67% of voters backed the measure, with the level of solid support among Democrats (69%), independents (66%), and Republicans (64%) nearly equal.

Voters connect the current campaign finance system to the dire state of our economy. Approximately three in four voters (73%) blame the influence of banking industry campaign contributions as a reason why Congress failed to regulate Wall Street. And four in five (79%) think major issues like health care and energy policy will get sidetracked or watered down by campaign contributions from wealthy interests.

A Campaign to Pass Fair Elections
Campaign reform groups plan an aggressive grassroots campaign in support of the legislation, and it will include phone calls to Congress, local in-district meetings and events, and online activism. In the next few weeks, more than a million Americans will be contacted to urge their member of Congress to cosponsor the legislation.

More Information
Additional information will be available at http://www.fairelectionsnow.org, including polling information, a bill summary, and facts and figures about money in recent elections. You can find out more about the groups in the Fair Elections Now coalition by visiting each group’s website:
 
Brennan Center for Justice
http://www.brennancenter.org

Change Congress
http://www.change-congress.org

Common Cause
http://www.commoncause.org

Democracy Matters:
http://www.democracymatters.org
 
Public Campaign
http://www.publicampaign.org

Public Citizen
http://www.citizen.org

U.S. PIRG
http://www.pirg.org