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Wednesday, April 6, 2011            Trevor Fitzgibbon, 202-406-0646

 Alec Baldwin joins Durbin, Larson at Press Conference

Washington, D.C.—Public Campaign today praised Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Reps. John Larson (D-Conn.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) for introducing the Fair Elections Now Act, legislation that would raise the voice of everyday Americans in our political process. Sen. Durbin will hold a hearing on the legislation on Tuesday, April 12^th.

 “We need a political system that works for everyday Americans —not just those who are able to write big campaign checks,” said Nick Nyhart, president and CEO of Public Campaign. “The Fair Elections Now Act would address this imbalance and we look forward to working with Senator Durbin and Congressman Larson to move this important legislation forward.”

 The bill introductions were announced at a late morning press conference featuring actor Alec Baldwin.

 On Tuesday, April 12^th, Sen. Durbin will hold a hearing on the legislation in the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights.

 The Fair Elections Now Act would allow candidates to run competitive campaigns for office by relying on small donations from people back home. Fair Elections Now Act would let members of Congress focus on their constituents instead of raising money from lobbyists or other special interests. Candidates would raise donations of $100 or less from their home state, which would be matched on a five-to-one basis. A summary of both Senate and House bills is available at http://publicampaign.org/fair-elections-now-act.

 “Fair Elections would be a welcome change in an era dominated by lobbyist fundraisers and Super PACs,” said Nyhart. “This legislation would start to return our government to one that is of, by, and for the people and not bought and paid for by special interests.”

 Along with the lead sponsors, the Fair Elections Now Act has the support of 11 Senators and 46 House members as original co-sponsors of the legislation.

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 Public Campaign is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to raise the voice of everyday Americans through common sense reform of the way our elections are financed.