Dear Campaign Finance Reform Advocate,
We are pleased to report that U.S. Reps. David Price and Brad Miller have both joined Rep. Walter Jones in co-sponsoring the Fair Elections Now Act (HR-1826), a bill to provide optional public campaign financing for congressional candidates.
Having support from Southern members of Congress is a big boost for winning federal public campaign financing reform. We need more from North Carolina!! Please call your U.S. House Rep today and ask him or her to co-sponsor HR-1826. The main House switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.
A Vital Reform
Federal reform is vital to the health of our democracy. In order to be elected, Congressional candidates — who must run for office every two years — are forced to spend too much time fundraising and too little time studying policy and talking with constituents. As one Democracy NC supporter recently remarked, it is "an unsustainable system." Another reform advocate described the excessive influence of high-dollar campaign contributions from narrow special interests as "toxic" to our democracy.
Understanding the Federal Bill
The Fair Elections Now Act (HR-1826 or FENA) would provide a grant to U.S. House candidates who demonstrate their viability by raising at least 1,500 in-state contributions of no more than $100 each. This voluntary alternative campaign financing system would help candidates who don’t have access to wealth, but who would make outstanding legislative leaders. It would also be an excellent option for candidates who want to make it plain that they will not allow special interests to influence their stance on policies. The program is voluntary so no candidate is forced to use it.
Please Take Action
If you live in the Congressional District of Rep. Jones, Miller or Price, please thank them for being one of the 89 reform-minded co-sponsors of HR-1826. You can reach Walter Jones at (800) 351-1697, Brad Miller at (919) 836-1313 or David Price at (919) 859-5999.
If you live in any other District, please call the House switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask your House Rep. to support FENA. If you need help, click here and use the upper lefthand search function to find out who your U.S. Representative is (all you need to enter is your zip code).
Thanks for supporting voter-owned elections! Learn more about the bill at www.fairelectionsnow.org or call me at 888-687-8683, Ext. 12.
Sincerely,
Molly Beacham for the Democracy NC Team
Democracy North Carolina is a statewide nonpartisan organization that uses research, grassroots organizing and coalition building to promote voter participation and fair elections. Please visit us at www.democracy-nc.org for more information. Click here to support our work.
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