Organizations and supporters are gathering thousands of signatures on the Fair Elections Now petition. We plan to show the strength of support for change by delivering an impressive number of signatures to Senators. We need your help to gather those signatures so that we can demonstrate that people across the country support the Fair Elections Now Act.

Encourage your organization’s members and activists or your personal network of friends and colleagues to sign the petition.Let us know if we can add your organization to the list of coalition partners on www.FairElectionsNow.org.

You may link to, download, or enter signatures to the Fair Elections Now Petition, or you may download the petition to take with you to gather signatures at your next community event or organizational meeting.

 

Do you know a group of people who care about Fair Elections? Or do you want to meet others who share your desire to take money out of politics? If you or your organization would like to host an event and need materials or assistance, contact us at info@fairelectionsnow.org and we will be in touch with you to discuss your ideas and how we might help.

House parties are best known as simple fund-raisers, but they also are a great activism tool. House parties allow you to gather your friends, neighbors and acquaintances in a fun and relaxed environment to explain why you care about public funding, and how they can get involved. You can base the gathering around a special educational opportunity, like a watching a video or having a speaker, or around an action, like signing a petition or a letter-writing campaign. Below are some simple steps for setting up a house party.

1. 
   Decide on the activities for the gathering. You might get people together to watch some of our favorite videos about public funding of elections and money in politics like “Run Granny Run,” “Getting a Grip on Money and Politics,” “Clean Elections, Changing the Face of America,” and “Cleaning House.” You might discuss some of the recent political scandals and why it is important to clean up politics, or write letters to your members of Congress or letters to the editors of your local papers. Do you know someone running for office who supports public funding? Candidates and public officials often make interesting speakers. Don’t forget to have friends sign the Fair Elections Now Petition!
2. 
   Decide on the location. It should be convenient, be able to hold the desired number of attendees, and have whatever technology is necessary for the event (television and DVD player, for instance, or a podium and microphone). Often, holding it in your house is easiest, though other spaces, such as churches or synagogues or community areas also work well.
3. 
   Invite friends, neighbors and others in your personal network. A general rule of thumb is that you should invite three times as many people as you want to attend. The invitation should include the reason for the gathering, what the guests will be doing, and what, if anything, they should bring (making the event a potluck can cut down on costs). Consider using one of the good online tools like Evite or MeetUp.com to manage your invitations.
4. 
   Consider inviting others in the community. Let us know if you’d like to open the house party to other interested individuals in your community. We’d be happy to post your event on our message board.
5. 
   Double-check all arrangements. Make sure that you can watch the video or the debate, confirm with the speaker, and bring extra paper and pens for letter writing. Careful planning will help ensure that the event runs smoothly.
6. 
   Enjoy yourself! Remember that the reason you are throwing the house party is to share your interest in an important issue with those you know. Spreading the word about these issues isn’t always easy, and you’re helping out a lot by doing this!
7. 
   Tell us how it went. Send us petition signatures, pictures, video clips or a note about your house party! Let us know if you’d like us to post how your house party went on our message board.

Writing a letter to the editor of your local paper or an Op-Ed will help raise awareness in your community, and could grab the attention of your elected officials. After the tips below, you’ll find talking points to help you craft your letters.

• Make it relevant. How will the Fair Elections Now Act affect voters? Connect your story to a local or national scandal if possible. Or relate your letter to a story that appeared in your newspaper recently about a public policy debate or election.

• Make it short. Most newspapers have a strict policy that letters be 150 words or less.

• Get to the point. State your point early in the letter and support your point with facts.

• Keep it simple. Try to avoid technical information and words most people would need a dictionary to understand.

• Your audience is the reader. Instead of focusing your attention at a reporter, editor, or expert who got it wrong, consider the central point you want people reading the letter to take away.

• Send letters to local weekly newspapers. The smaller the newspaper, the easier it is to get your letter printed.

• Be sure to include your contact information. Put your full name, address, email and phone number at the top of the page and sign the letter at the bottom if you are submitting by mail. The phone number is important for verification purposes. Each newspaper has different requirements for what information they want, so make sure you follow the specific guidelines.

Urge your senators to support the Fair Elections Now Act! Sending letters, faxes and emails to your senators are good ways to be heard.

These tips will help increase the effectiveness of your letter:

• Keep it brief. Your letter should tackle only the Fair Elections Now Act, and should be under a page in length.

• Start with who you are and what you want. In the first paragraph, let your senator know that you are a constituent and state that you are writing about S. 1285, the Fair Elections Now Act.

• Use only a few, strong points to make your case. Choose a few of the talking points that will be most persuasive to legislators and flesh them out. For example, mention the success of public funding of elections on the local level, and its popularity with the American people.

• Make the letter personal. Explain how public funding of elections affects your community or state, or even you and your family. Give an example of a local benefit that could come from cleaning up Congress.

• Your opinion matters. Your legislators are there to represent you. While you should be polite and focused, make sure to take a firm position. Remember that just because they were elected to office does not necessarily mean they know more about public financing of elections than you do.

bird-dog (bûrd'-dôg), v. To follow, monitor and/or seek out a subject of interest, such as a public official, with persistent attention to get answers to questions or influence the subject.

If you live in an early primary state or happen to have a presidential candidate coming through town, Fair Elections Action Week may be a good time to ask the candidates if they support full public financing of elections. You might also use this guide to bird-dog your local candidates about public funding of elections if it is election season where you live.

We can't be everywhere at once, but with your help we can make sure the candidates come clean about their campaign cash and their ideas for fixing the system. Help us get some real answers by bird-dogging the candidates.

Tips for Successful Bird-Dogging

1. Plan in Advance
It is very important to make a plan in advance, whether going by yourself or with others. Don’t try to “wing it.” Write your questions in advance–even the most experienced bird-doggers sometimes stumble over their questions when the microphone is on and the cameras are pointing at them. If you need a reference for facts on clean elections visit the Fair Elections Now Act Website or the White House For Sale (www.whitehouseforsale.org) web site.

2. Get good seats – which means arriving early!
Arrive early. Good seats are in or near the very front row or near microphones placed in the aisles. Sitting near a microphone allows you to get to it in the least amount of time and can help to ensure that your question is asked.

3. Get your hand up first, fast and high.
This sounds simple, but it is important! Most people will wait for the second or third question to raise their hand, and some only raise their hand half way. These people will rarely get called on. However, for some reason, if you are the first, fastest, highest person to get their hand in the air, you will almost always get called on!

4. Get a handshake – and a photo, and an autograph – and AN ANSWER!
After the formal parts of an event, there is almost always a handshake line. Anticipate where the handshake is going to be (usually near the stage).

The handshake line is another chance to ask the target a question, in public, and usually near reporters. One important tactic: don’t let go of her hand until you have your answer! Politicians are used to this, and they will rarely pull away.

Getting a photo of you with the target while the questioning is going on – is a good way to extend discussion and/or seal the deal.

5. Get quoted.
After the event, talk to the press and get them to cover your questions and the politician’s statement. The press will not come to talk to you – you’ve got to go to them. But they will be interested in what you have to say. Prepare your quote just like you prepared your question.

Important: when you’re talking with a reporter, you’ll want to keep the discussion to what YOU want to say about the issue of public financing, and not on other issues.

If a reporter asks you, “What did you think about Senator so-and-so’s speech on Social Security?” or “How do you like the Senator’s new hairpiece?” it’s perfectly appropriate to dodge the question completely and respond with your quote instead (“The important thing here today was that the Senator made a clear commitment to support the Fair Elections Now Act and not take any contributions from lobbyists.”)

Sample Question

The Setup:
"The cost of running for office is out of control and gives a few wealthy and powerful individuals with enormous influence over elected officials through their ability to collect massive campaign contributions. Senators Durbin and Specter have introduced a bill that would rid congressional elections of the corrupting influence of money: the Fair Elections Now Act. The bill would create a voluntary system of public funding to put voters back at the center of elections."

The Question:
"If you support a system of voluntary public funding of all federal elections and the Fair Elections Now Act, what will you do to ensure it becomes law if you are elected President?”
Or
“If you are not in favor of this common sense reform, what are your other solutions to the influence of money in politics and the out-of-control cost of running for office?"

Bird-dogged a candidate? Send us a link to the video, or email us and let us know how it went! If you like, we’ll post your exchange on www.FairElectionsNow.org. Email us at info@fairelectionsnow.org.

Have you thought about the local businesses you patronize as potential supporters of the Fair Elections Now Act? Small businesses are an integral part of the American economy, and an important voice in politics. Many times, small businesses are forgotten by organizers as an important factor in building support and publicity for our issues at the state level. One great way to involve a small business in supporting FENA is to ask them to sign a small business state of support for FENA. This is a great way for you to get to know your local merchants, as well as demonstrate that people from all walks of life support FENA.

Click here (pdf) to download the business support statement.

One way to get support in your community—and to show your senators community support—is by getting local organizations to pass resolutions in favor of the Fair Elections Now Act. Below is a sample resolution you could use.

Click here (pdf) to download a sample resolution

Sending an email to your friends or organization’s supporters is a great way to spread support about Fair Elections Action Week. Below is a sample email message you could use.

Dear friend,

I am participating in Fair Elections Action Week in November and I’d like you to join me. Activists from across the country are joining together at all kinds of events to show support for the Fair Elections Now Act, legislation in the Senate that would bring full public financing of elections to Washington, DC.

[Enter event information you are writing about]

Fair Elections are about voters -- not big campaign donors. Modeled after successful "clean elections" laws in seven states and two cities, this legislation would make it possible for candidates to seek public office without having to court big money special interests for campaign contributions. Once elected, these candidates are accountable only to voters, not big campaign donors.

To learn more about the week of action, visit http://www.fairelectionsnow.org. It’s time elections in this country were about voters and together we can make it happen.

Thanks,
Your Name

At more than $4 billion dollars, the 2004 elections were the most expensive in U.S. history. Special interest dollars appear to be buying special favors at greater rates than ever, as wealthy, well-connected individuals of both political parties gather influence and give enormous sums of campaign cash. With the recent pay-to-play scandals involving former Reps. Tom Delay (R-TX), Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA), and current Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA), among others, not to mention convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, it is easy to lose faith that our democracy will ever be about voters and not campaign donors.

However, changes in states across the country are providing hope to those disenchanted with the current political system. Three states—Arizona, Maine, and North Carolina—have already put into practice Clean Elections, a system of campaign finance that puts voters ahead of political donors. Four others and two municipalities-- Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico and Vermont and Albuquerque, New Mexico and Portland, Oregon -- are in the process of implementing a Clean Elections system in all or parts of the state.

Clean Elections works by allowing everyone to participate equally in the political process. In most instances, candidates qualify for public funding once they show a broad base of community support by collecting a set number of small contributions—usually $5. In Maine, for example, candidates for the state senate must gather $5 contributions from150 people to be eligible for public financing. Once they qualify for public funding, Clean Elections candidates promise to take no more private contributions and to abide by strict spending limits. With Clean Elections, elected officials are no longer just well connected insiders or career politicians, but average folks from diverse backgrounds.

If a candidate runs under the Clean Elections system and faces an opponent who is running with private contributions and outspends the publicly funded candidate, the law typically provides a matching grant, to a limit, to the publicly funded candidate. Extra funding is also available if there is independent spending against a candidate by an outside group or individual. Candidates who choose not to participate in the Clean Elections system can raise money from private donors, but must follow state campaign finance limits and strict disclosure laws.

Below is a summary of the Fair Elections Now Act. To read the text of SB 1285, click here.

FAIR ELECTIONS ARE NEEDED

The Fair Elections Now Act would restore public confidence in the Congressional election process by allowing qualified candidates to receive campaign financing from the Senate Fair Elections Fund instead of from lobbyists and other special interests. In return, participating candidates would voluntarily agree to limit their campaign spending to the amount allocated to them. This voluntary alternative would free participating candidates from the deeply flawed campaign fundraising system that currently overwhelms the entire election process. It would spare candidates from the incessant, time-consuming money chase that has tainted public perceptions of elected officials and fostered abuses that undermine our democracy. Candidates could instead devote their time and to effectively representing their constituents and to solving our nation's problems.

HOW FAIR ELECTIONS WOULD WORK

The Fair Elections Now Act would create a voluntary system that gives Senate candidates the option to stop dialing for dollars and attending fundraisers, without unilaterally disarming against a well-financed opponent. For those who participate, fundraising would be limited to raising "seed money" in amounts of no more than $100 per person to pay for campaign start-up costs. In addition, participating candidates would be required to demonstrate sufficient public support to merit Fair Elections funding by raising qualifying contributions of $5 each from a minimum number of state residents (based on the population of the state). Having demonstrated their viability, they would be eligible to receive Fair Elections funds.

This legislation establishes a formula for determining the baseline level of public funding provided to qualifying candidates for the primary and general election cycles. The amount would vary based on the population of the state, with the allocation for the primary equaling two-thirds of the allocation for the general election. Participating candidates would receive higher funding if a non-participating opponent raised funds in excess of the allocation provided by the Fair Elections system or if a participating candidate was targeted by independent expenditures. The allocations would be adjusted for the cost differences in the various media markets covering each state. Participants would receive vouchers for purchasing broadcast airtime and would receive a 20% discount below the lowest unit cost on all advertising purchased near the end of the primary and general campaigns.

THE THREE STAGES OF FAIR ELECTIONS

- STAGE ONE: SEED MONEY

Before declaring an intent to run as a "Fair Elections" candidate, a U.S. Senate candidate could solicit, accept, and spend seed money contributions of up to $100 from individual contributors (but not from PACs or other special interests) living in any state. Seed money expenditures would be limited to a cap equal to $75,000 + ($7,500 x (# of Congressional districts minus 1)). Senate candidates could spend seed money for any election campaign-related expense, and any excess spending in Stage One would be deducted from the candidate's Fair Elections allocation.

- STAGE TWO: QUALIFYING CONTRIBUTIONS

To demonstrate viability as a publicly financed candidate, a major party candidate would be required to gather a specified minimum number of qualifying contributions of exactly $5 each. The minimum number of qualifying contributions required for any particular state would be equal to 2,000 + (500 x (# of Congressional districts minus 1)). Qualifying contributions must be collected from residents in the candidate's home state, and these contributions must be turned over to the Senate Fair Elections Fund to help finance the Fair Elections system. To protect the Fair Elections Fund from fly-by-night candidates lured by visions of free funding, independent and minor party candidates would have to raise 150% of the number of qualifying contributions that a major party candidate would be required to raise in the same election.

- STAGE THREE: ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO QUALIFIED CANDIDATES

Qualified candidates would receive general election funding in the amount of $750,000 + ($150,000 x (# of Congressional districts minus 1)). The funds available for the primary would be equal to 67% of the general election allocation. Participants facing privately funded opponents or heavy independent expenditures would be eligible for increased dollar-for-dollar "fair fight funds" up to 200% above the base general election allocation for which they are entitled.

The following organizations have endorsed the Fair Elections Now Act.

AFL-CIO
AFSCME
Americans for Campaign Reform
Brennan Center for Justice
Campaign for America’s Future
Common Cause
Communications Workers of America
Democracy 21
Democracy Matters
Dolores Huerta Foundation
League of Conservation Voters
League of Women Voters
Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
MoveOn.org
NAACP
National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
National Council of Churches USA
Public Campaign
Public Citizen
SEIU
Sierra Club
US Action
U.S. PIRG

“It’s now time for bold action to fix what is wrong, and the bill to fix it is the Fair Elections Now Act. Under the Fair Elections Now Act, exceptional candidates who want to serve the public and can demonstrate public support through contributions from small donors, but who have average financial means, will be able to run competitive races for federal office. Candidates and elected officials alike could spend more time hearing from voters rather than seeking the support of wealthy donors.”
- Anna Burger, Secretary-Treasurer, SEIU

“This legislation, which is strongly supported by the NAACP, will go a long way in restoring the confidence of the American people in their elected representatives as well as the election process overall.”
- Hillary Shelton, Washington, DC Bureau Director, NAACP

“We applaud Senators Durbin and Specter for their leadership in presenting the Fair Elections Now Act. We know from experience that raising money in small donations means more people get involved in the political process. And that’s a good thing for our country.”
- Noah T. Winer, Election Integrity Director, MoveOn.org Political Action

“We applaud Senators Durbin and Specter for their leadership on this important issue. … This proposal benefits the environment by reducing the undue influence of Big Oil and other major polluters in the legislative process.”
- Gene Karpinski, President, League of Conservation Voters

“The Fair Elections Now Act opens the electoral process to Latino, African American and Asian American candidates. For too long, candidates and elected officials have been forced to chase campaign contributions, leaving them less time to listen to our communities and their constituents. This bill brings the people closer to their elected leaders.”
- John Trasviña, President and General Counsel,
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Defense Fund (MALDEF)

“All Americans want a government that is responsive to our daily lives, but the drive for campaign cash impairs our elected officials’ ability to hear and respond to all constituents. The ever-increasing amount of money needed to run for office consumes legislators’ time – which could be better spent working to ensure liberty and justice for all – and contributes to the upside-down priorities that allow millionaire donors to claim more congressional attention than middle-class Americans.”
- Jeff Blum, Executive Director, USAction

“The Sierra Club has consistently supported reform of the campaign finance system in order to reduce the influence of polluting corporations on elected officials. Americans understand the connection between clean air, clean water and clean elections, and they don't want to see environmental safeguards sold to the highest bidder. The Sierra Club supports the Fair Elections Now Act to help make candidates more accountable to the public, instead of to special interests.”
- Carl Pope, Executive Director, Sierra Club

“The Fair Elections Now Act, as we see it, will allow everyday citizens to engage in the democratic process in a meaningful and significant manner – proving them a ‘stakeholder’ seat at the decision making table.”
- Melanie Campbell, Executive Director and CEO,
National Coalition on Black Civic Participation

“The Fair Elections Now Act will help change the face of our democracy. It will empower people from all walks of life to be more active in the political process, just as it has in Arizona, Maine, and North Carolina. People will be able to run based on their experience and support from their community, and not their ability to raise tens of thousands of dollars.”
- Dolores Huerta, President, Dolores C. Huerta Foundation

“Congress should be more responsive to the kitchen table issues that Americans care about, but the need to raise large amounts of money from special interests diverts the attention of members of Congress. This bill would revamp the way Senate campaigns are paid for and would allow our elected officials to spend their time addressing America’s challenges and seizing new opportunities.”
- Campaign for America’s Future

"Today the amount of money spent in top ten competitive Senate races averages $34 million per campaign - double what it was just four years ago. It takes a mountain of money - about $7 million on average - even to lose a Senate campaign. This is not sustainable," said Durbin. "People who say the public shouldn't have to pay for elections are missing the point: The American people already pay for elections - in ways that favor incumbents and special interests and in a Congressional agenda spawned too many times by those who finance our campaigns. Public financing will cost us only a fraction of what the current system costs."
"Five years ago today, the Senate passed the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reforms banning huge soft-money donations to political parties. Earlier this year, we passed lobbying reforms," said Durbin. "But the truth is, we can pass all the lobbying and ethics reforms in the world and it won't solve the real problem. Special interest money will always find new loopholes to work its way into campaigns until we change the system fundamentally."
- Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), Sponsor, Fair Elections Now Act

“I am joining Senator Durbin in introducing legislation in the Senate to provide for public financing because I believe it will be a significant step in improving public confidence in the election process. The public is understandably very distrustful of what happens in public life when there are contributions by interested parties in the political process in terms of whether that influences our official decisions. I think that it does not, but there is great public skepticism on that question and I think public financing will go a long way to restoring public confidence in the electoral system.”
- Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Sponsor, Fair Elections Now Act