FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 20, 2007
Tierney Reintroduces Bill to Reform Financing of Congressional Elections
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| Congressman John Tierney discusses the bill with Senators Durbin (D-Il) and Specter (R-PA) |
Washington, DC - Congressman John Tierney (D-MA), today, along with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Arlen Specter (R-PA), held a news conference to release details of bipartisan legislation to restore public confidence in the congressional elections process. The bill would allow qualified candidates to receive campaign financing from a public fund instead of from lobbyists and other special interests.
The legislation, known as the Clean Money, Clean Elections Act in the House and the Fair Elections Now Act in the Senate, would free participating candidates from the deeply flawed campaign fundraising system that currently overwhelms the entire election process. Candidates could instead devote their time and energy to talking with their constituents about the issues that are important to them.
"The Clean Money, Clean Elections Act was one of the first pieces of legislation I introduced upon coming to Congress in 1997. The fact that, since that time, so many states and municipalities have implemented their own systems for publicly-financed elections is evidence of the growing support for fair, clean elections in this country. I believe that we here in Congress should - and must - follow suit. We owe the American people an electoral system that is truly accountable to them - not to corporate campaign donors and special interest groups," said Congressman John F. Tierney at the press conference.
"I have always believed that there should be a level playing field for those seeking to serve our nation through public office. Unfortunately, the current electoral system simply prevents this from being the case," continued Tierney.
The Clean Money, Clean Elections Act, co-sponsored by Congressmen Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Todd Russell Platts (R-PA), is a voluntary system and gives candidates an option to forego private funding without having to "unilaterally disarm" and includes reduced rates on broadcast advertisement.
Tierney concluded, "I look forward to advancing this bipartisan, bicameral effort in the 110th Congress. It is my hope that, together, we can finally make public financing of congressional elections a reality."
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