Recent scandals remind us not only of the need for better
policing of outright corruption in Congress but of the insidious bond between
legislators and the powerful interests from whom they raise the majority of the
financial support for their campaigns. It’s time to break that bond.
Right now wealthy interests have far too much influence in
our elections. Modern campaigns have become less about deep ideas and
more about deep pockets. As the cost of campaigns has gone up, the number of
candidates has dropped. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.
The public benefits from elections that offer us a real
choice of candidates. The Fair Election Now Act offers a real alternative, one
that puts voters ahead of the powerful few. The bill introduced today will
restrain the spiraling cost of campaigns, put a stop to the endless
fundraising, and give voters a chance to have their concerns heard above those
able to give and bundle large contributions.
U.S. PIRG applauds Senators Dick Durbin and Arlen Specter
for their leadership in working to fundamentally change the way that politics
is practiced here in Washington
and across the country.
We thank them for their willingness to challenge the status
quo and we encourage all members of Congress to sign on in support. We
look forward to working with Congress to see this proposal become law.
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U.S. PIRG is the national advocacy
office for the state Public Interest Research Groups. State PIRGs are
non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organizations.
