The bipartisan act, which was introduced by Representative John Larson, a Connecticut Democrat, and Walter Jones, a North Carolina Republican, offers an alternative to current campaign finance system by allowing candidates to run for Congress with small contributions and public grants. Its goal is to eliminate candidates’ reliance on big money contributors.

In response, Fair Elections Now Coalition – which includes groups such as the Brennan Center for Justice, Change Congress, Democracy Matters and U.S. Public Interest Research Group – released a statement suggesting the ongoing healthcare, energy and financial regulation debates are exposing the extent to which the legislative process in the U.S. has become dominated by powerful interest groups spending millions of dollars lobbying in Washington.

“It’s apparent now more than ever that the only way to have a healthy, balanced debate is to free members of Congress from the constant pressures of fundraising,” it stressed.

H.R.1826 provides a public grant to those who qualify by collecting a set number of contributions in amounts of up to $100. Once qualified, the candidates can continue to raise small contributions that are matched on a four-to-one basis up to a limit.

The Senate has also introduced its version of the Fair Elections Now Act (S. 752) which is sponsored by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin of Illinois and Senator Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Democrat.

Originally Published at NewsBlarg

We really need to stay on top of this money problem. There is a Bill in the Senate, S604 that will open up the books of the Federal Reserve.

This is the companion Bill to HR1207 and this was introduced by Bernard Sanders.
Way to go Bernie!