Durbin Introduces Fair Elections Now Act

Press Release

U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Fair Elections Now Act, which would dramatically change the way Congressional elections are financed. Under the legislation, qualified Senate candidates would earn grants, matching funds, and television vouchers to run competitive campaigns based on small-dollar contributions, rather than rely on funding from wealthy donors and special interests.

The Fair Elections Now Act would help reduce the influence of wealthy donors and special interest lobbyists by creating a voluntary system of public financing for Senate candidates. Candidates who participate in the Fair Elections process would agree to limit their campaign spending to the amounts raised from small-dollar donors plus the amounts provided by the Fair Elections Fund.

"Five years ago, the Citizens United ruling effectively gave corporations and the wealthy few a blank check to influence politics and politicians in our country," said Durbin. "Unless we curb the growing influence of big money in politics, our democracy is threatened. I'm introducing the Fair Elections Now Act to put the power of our political system back into the hands of the American people, where it belongs."

The Fair Elections Now Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Al Franken D-MN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ).

A companion bill was introduced earlier this year in the House of Representatives by U.S. Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD). The Government by the People Act would establish a similar public financing system for House candidates.

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