U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Fair Elections Now Act on June 11.
The act would change the manner in which congressional elections are financed. It would allow qualified Senate candidates to earn grants, matching funds and television vouchers to run campaigns based on smaller dollar contributions, rather than receiving funding from wealthy donors and special interest groups.
Also, the the act would help reduce the influence of wealthy donors and special interest lobbyists by creating a voluntary system of public financing for Senate candidates. Those candidates who participate in the fair elections process would agree to limit campaign spending to small dollar donors.
“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,” Durbin said. “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. Sens. 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).
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