Common Cause Statement on Introduction of the Fair Elections Now Act

Today’s introduction of the Fair Elections Now Act invites senators to declare their independence from big money campaign donors and refocus their attention on the everyday folks who elected them.

This common sense legislation, modeled after successful small donor, public financing programs in several states, would give a refundable $25 tax credit to Americans who contribute $300 or less to a Senate candidate or party in a given year. Their small donations would be supplemented by grants to the candidates at a rate of $6 for every $1 donated, so a $150 contribution would grow to $1,050.

Common Cause commends Sen. Dick Durbin and the more than a dozen other senators who’ve signed on as original co-sponsors of the Fair Elections Now Act. We urge additional senators to join in co-sponsoring and working for its passage. We also urge the House to act promptly on a similar bill, the Government by the People Act (HR 20), introduced last week to create a small donor matching fund for House races.