30 Representatives from States with Citizen Financing Applaud Small Donor Matching System in S. 1, Urge Passage
30 Representatives from States with Citizen Financing Applaud Small Donor Matching System in S. 1, Urge Passage
Enclosed for your information is a letter sent yesterday, May 11, by 30 Democratic Representatives to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, chief S. 1 sponsor Senator Jeff Merkley, and Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar.
The letter from House members representing states where citizen financing of elections has been enacted at the state or local level applauded the small donor matching system included in S. 1, the For the People Act.
According to the letter:
In addition to the essential protections provided for the sacred right to vote, there are numerous reforms in HR1/S1 that can help everyday Americans push back on a corrupt political system, including ethics and lobbying reforms, a fix to the broken Federal Election Commission and reforms to ensure secret money being spent in elections is disclosed.
But, in particular, the small donor matching system will wrest control away from the big money players in Washington and empower a new set of voices. Studies show that variously designed small donor systems can increase racial, gender and socio-economic diversity in the candidate pool by promoting access for those who lack connections to the high-end donor class. Furthermore, by reducing candidate dependence on PACs and wealthy contributors, this system allows elected lawmakers to break free from the influence of moneyed special interests and keep their focus on the interests of their constituents.
The letter noted:
An important feature of the system created under HR1/S1 is that it does not use any taxpayer revenues. Instead, the system is fully funded by a surcharge on fees, penalties and settlements paid to the government by corporate lawbreakers and wealthy tax cheats.
The letter continued:
We note that Congressman John Lewis – whose legacy is at the center of the current voting rights battles waged in Georgia and around the country – was a fierce advocate of both the voting reforms and the campaign finance reforms contained in the For the People Act.
The letter concluded:
Along with the other critical reforms in the For the People Act, a new system of citizen-owned elections can chart a course towards a more inclusive and accountable democracy – the kind of democracy that John Lewis fought for every day of his life.
We look forward to partnering with you to secure passage of this transformational legislation.
Find the full list of signing Members here or below.
- John Larson (CT)
- Chellie Pingree (ME)
- Mondaire Jones (NY)
- Karen Bass (CA)
- Earl Blumenauer (OR)
- Suzanne Bonamici (OR)
- Jamaal Bowman (NY)
- Ed Case (HI)
- Yvette Clarke (NY)
- Joe Courtney (CT)
- Jason Crow (CO)
- Diana Degette (CO)
- Rosa DeLauro (CT)
- Mark Desaulnier (CA)
- Adriano Espaillat (NY)
- Ruben Gallego (AZ)
- Jimmy Gomez (CA)
- Pramila Jayapal (WA)
- Barbara Lee (CA)
- Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM0
- Alan Lowenthal (CA)
- Betty McCollum (MN)
- Grace Meng (NY)
- Kweisi Mfume (MD)
- Joe Neguse (CO)
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY)
- Ed Perlmutter (CO)
- Jamie Raskin (MD)
- Dutch Ruppersberger (MD)
- John Sarbanes (MD)
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