In the face of an unrelenting rise of super PACs, “shadow money” groups, and corporate spending in U.S. elections, U.S. representatives introduced a bill Wednesday that seeks to run big money out of politics with a return to a “Government by the People.”
H.R. 20, the Government By the People Act, maps out new funding rules that would enable congressional candidates to run competitive campaigns while relying on small donor contributions, rather than on big-spenders and corporate coffers.
“The Government by the People Act is a shot of powerful medicine for the cancer of big money growing within our body politic,” said Karen Hobert Flynn, senior vice president for strategy and programs at Common Cause. “By allowing candidates to run winning campaigns with a base of small donor contributions, multiplied by grants from a federal fund, it would break the power of six- and seven-figure political investors like the Koch brothers, Foster Friess and Sheldon Adelson.”
“The Government by the People Act is a shot of powerful medicine for the cancer of big money growing within our body politic.”
—Karen Hobert Flynn, Common Cause
“It’s time we return to government of, by, and for the people, not special interests,” said Emma Boorboor, Democracy Associate with U.S. PIRG. “The Government By the People Act would reduce Congress’ dependence on big money campaign donors and help ordinary citizens get their voice heard.”
As Dēmos explains, the bill would increase “the power of the small contributions that ordinary citizens can afford to give, providing incentives for congressional candidates to reach out to average constituents, not just dial for dollars from wealthy donors.”
Click Here: New Zealand rugby store
According to Dēmos, the act has four key provisions. It:
-
Creates the Freedom from Influence Fund to match contributions of up to $150 to participating candidates 6-to-1 or more;
-
Provides a $25 refundable tax credit for small contributions;
-
Provides enhanced matching funds in the final 60 days of a general election for candidates in high-cost races (because of an onslaught of outside spending, for example); and
-
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT