To: Interested Journalists and Editorial Writers
From: Campaign for Fair Elections
Date: September 16, 2010
Subject: House Committee to take up Fair Elections Now Act

The Committee on House Administration just announced that it would hold a committee vote on Thursday, September 23rd, on the Fair Elections Now Act, legislation that would make elected officials accountable to constituents instead of their big money backers.

This is a big step forward for Fair Elections—and a sign that Congress is ready to put voters back in charge of our elections.

Key points:

• The Fair Elections Now Act (H.R. 6116/1826) would bring historic change to our elections, making members of Congress accountable to their constituents—not special interests and their lobbyists.
• And it'll do this without costing taxpayers a dime. Fair Elections is funded through the sale of unused broadcast spectrum.
• We have the votes to pass this legislation out of committee and through the full House.

The Campaign for Fair Elections is launching a six-figure television and online ad buy this weekend with interviews from both conservatives and progressives on their need to end big money's dominance in Washington, D.C. As one conservative at the August 28th Glenn Beck, "Restoring Honor" rally told interviewers, "big money definitely effects the Republican Party and we're just as sick about that as we are about the effects it has on the Democratic party."

The ads are available here: www.fairelectionsnow.org/voices.

Despite wide differences on many other issues, liberal, moderate and conservative voters are largely in agreement that Congress is under the sway of big donors whose lobbyists pour millions of dollars into political campaigns.

FAIR ELECTIONS: THE BASICS

The Fair Elections Now Act, sponsored by Reps. John B Larson (D-Conn.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), and Walter Jones (R-N.C.), would allow Congressional candidates to run competitive campaigns for office without having to rely on large contributions from corporate interests and lobbyists. It would help us regain a government of, by, and for the people, not one bought and paid for by special interests.

• Under Fair Elections, candidates would renounce political action committee gifts and finance their campaigns with a blend of small donations from individuals and grants from a special Fair Elections Fund. A candidate raising $50,000 in small donations would get an initial grant from the fund.
• Candidates could accept only donations of $100 or less. These small donations would then be matched, to a point, on a four-to-one basis.
• The Fair Elections system would be funded by the Federal Communications Commission's sale of broadcast spectrum. It is not funded with taxpayer dollars.

With Fair Elections, candidates could raise money back home instead of spending their time at Washington, D.C. fundraisers or dialing for dollars from wealthy interests.

The legislation has the broad, bipartisan, and cross-caucus support of 164 House members and 25 Senators.

THE TIME IS NOW

We've seen it time and time again this election cycle—voters are tired of a Congress they see as unresponsive to their needs. And time and time again polling has shown that this is often due to the belief members of Congress are bought off by the special interests and lobbyists funding their campaigns.

Whether it's Gov. Rod Blagojevich getting off with a slap on the wrist, U.S. House members questioned for their fundraising during financial reform, or Rep. John Boehner offering access to his office for $100,000—it's no surprise the American people have lost faith in their government to work in their interest.

Congress must restore this trust and assure voters they stand with them. It's time for the Fair Elections Now Act.