House committee passes historic fair elections legislation

The Committee on House Administration passed the Fair Elections Now Act, a historic step that will remove politicians from the fundraising treadmill and put elections back in the hands of voters, according to Common Cause.

“With this committee vote, voters won and special interests lost,” said David Donnelly, campaign manager of the Campaign for Fair Elections.  “Chairman Robert Brady and his colleagues on the committee must be commended for their strong leadership on Fair Elections, and for voting to place government back into the hands of the American people.”

“This is a huge step forward for voters who feel ignored by Washington,” said Common Cause President and CEO Bob Edgar. “Because as long as we have politicians answering to corporations and lobbyists who finance their campaigns, they will never be accountable to the people who elected them. Common Cause applauds this committee vote today and urges the full House to vote on the bill as soon as possible.”

“With Fair Elections, constituents don’t have to wonder if their elected officials are standing up for them or their big money donors when casting their votes on Capitol Hill,” said Sam Waterson on The Huffington Post. “Congress would be accountable to them, not wealthy donors or lobbyists.”

The Campaign will also begin airing a new television ad to urge Congress to pass Fair Elections. The latest spot features actor Sam Waterston and interviews with both conservatives and progressives.

The Fair Elections Now Act would allow candidates to run competitive campaigns for office by relying on small donations from people back home. Sponsored by Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), Walter Jones (R-N.C.),  and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Fair Elections 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 four-to-one basis. The system is funded by the sale of broadcast spectrum and would not cost taxpayers.

Read the summary of the bill at fairelectionsnow.org.