Have been seeing and hearing more and more about this movement, and I think the idea has some merit. Really haven't looked into the pros and cons of the idea too much, just spent a little time on some of the Web sites that are pushing for it. An interesting group spearheading the idea includes a "bi-partisan group of former senators: Bill Bradley (D), Bob Kerry (D), William Rudman (R) and Alan Simpson (R). Some pretty heavy hitters that obviously were around for a long time and had a lot of private money thrown their way. Here is an excerpt from the Web site Just6dollars.org that highlights (the good of) the idea. Would like to hear some thoughts on this...I'm just starting to look into it.
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Congress would only have to spend $6 per citizen per year to publicly fund each and every election for the House, the Senate and the White House. When you consider that "pork barrel" projects cost every one of us more than $200 last year alone, it?s no contest.
Think of it. With public funding, wealthy special interests and their hired lobbyists would no longer have a commanding influence over our politics and government. Instead of begging for campaign donations, candidates would spend their time communicating with voters. Once elected, our leaders would be free to focus on our nation's challenges rather than having to worry about financing their next campaign. And there's no doubt that more of our most able leaders would run for federal office when the ability to finance a campaign isn't such a daunting obstacle.
Americans for Campaign Reform is building a nonpartisan grassroots movement of citizens who support voluntary public funding and want Congress to act now. We can make this happen. Public funding is already working in Arizona and Maine, and was just passed by the Connecticut legislature.
As citizens we can complain about the corrosive influence of our election finance system, or we can do something about it. With your help, we can mobilize citizens across the country and put pressure on Congress to enact real reform.
ACR Honorary Chairs,
Bill Bradley - Former Senator - (D) New Jersey
Bob Kerrey - Former Senator - (D) Nebraska
Warren Rudman - Former Senator - (R) New Hampshire
Alan Simpson - Former Senator - (R) Wyoming
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Congress would only have to spend $6 per citizen per year to publicly fund each and every election for the House, the Senate and the White House. When you consider that "pork barrel" projects cost every one of us more than $200 last year alone, it?s no contest.
Think of it. With public funding, wealthy special interests and their hired lobbyists would no longer have a commanding influence over our politics and government. Instead of begging for campaign donations, candidates would spend their time communicating with voters. Once elected, our leaders would be free to focus on our nation's challenges rather than having to worry about financing their next campaign. And there's no doubt that more of our most able leaders would run for federal office when the ability to finance a campaign isn't such a daunting obstacle.
Americans for Campaign Reform is building a nonpartisan grassroots movement of citizens who support voluntary public funding and want Congress to act now. We can make this happen. Public funding is already working in Arizona and Maine, and was just passed by the Connecticut legislature.
As citizens we can complain about the corrosive influence of our election finance system, or we can do something about it. With your help, we can mobilize citizens across the country and put pressure on Congress to enact real reform.
ACR Honorary Chairs,
Bill Bradley - Former Senator - (D) New Jersey
Bob Kerrey - Former Senator - (D) Nebraska
Warren Rudman - Former Senator - (R) New Hampshire
Alan Simpson - Former Senator - (R) Wyoming
