The Facts
“We already pay for congressional campaigns, we just label it ‘the national debt.’ Interests that donate to campaigns often get what they want from legislation, and we all pay for that; by comparison, public financing seems like a bargain.”
- Lee HamiltonFormer Congressman from Indiana
ACR Advisory Board Member
Legislation
Americans for Campaign Reform is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) founded in 2003 with a single mission: enact public funding of all federal elections. We support two pieces of legislation both of which promote small donor participation in our elections and provide adequate public funds for qualified candidate to run competitive races. The first updates and improves the existing presidential public funding system. It has been introduced in the House and Senate but has not been heard in committee.
The second––called The Fair Elections Now Act (S. 750 and H.R. 1404)––introduces voluntary public funding for House and Senate Races. The bill would allow federal candidates to choose to run for office without relying on large contributions, big money bundlers, or donations from lobbyists, and would be freed from the constant fundraising necessary to finance a campaign today. Candidates who agree to limit their donations of $100 or less from within their districts would be eligible for $5 in federal matching funds for every $1 they raise. It was introduced in the Senate by Dick Durbin (D-IL)and in the House by John Larson (D-CT). The bills have attracted more than 90 sponsors.
Federal public funding legislation enjoys bipartisan support in both houses of Congress, with over 120 cosponsors. The bills would create a modern system of public funding of Presidential and Congressional elections based on small donations from citizens:
Fair Elections Now Act
A Small Donor Approach to Congressional Campaign Finance
Download the Fair Elections Now Act fact sheet
The Fair Elections Now Act introduces voluntary public funding for House and Senate Races. The bill would allow federal candidates to choose to run for office without relying on large contributions, big money bundlers, or donations from lobbyists, and would be freed from the constant fundraising necessary to finance a campaign today.