House Panel to Bring Up Historic Legislation to Reduce Corporate-Financed Congressional Elections

[flpoljunkie]

House Panel to Bring Up Historic Legislation to Reduce Corporate-Financed Congressional Elections

September 16th, 2010

Washington, D.C.-The Committee on House Administration announced today that on Thursday, September 23rd it will take up and vote on the Fair Elections Now Act, legislation that would bring sweeping, historic change to our political system by putting elections back in the hands of voters. The measure is the strongest one since Watergate to advance in Congress, and a committee vote could prepare the bill for full House consideration in the next few weeks.

The legislation is being supported by a six-figure TV ad campaign that features testimony from Tea Party activists interviewed at last month's Glenn Beck rally and progressives interviewed across the country. The ads highlighting conservative voices will air on Sunday shows and on FOXNews with ads highlighting progressives and conservatives to air on MSNBC and CNN. The ads debut this Sunday on networks in Washington, DC, and can be found at www.fairelectionsnow.org/voices.

"Americans want a return to elections of, by, and for the people, not funded by corporate and special interests," said David Donnelly, campaign manager for the Campaign for Fair Elections. "We urge the Committee to vote out this historic bill, and encourage the House leadership to bring it to the floor where we have the votes to win a landmark victory for all voters. Given the voter uprising we are seeing across the country, members of Congress ought to be pass this bill immediately."

"We commend Rep. John Larson's, Rep. Chellie Pingree's and Rep. Walter Jones' leadership on Fair Elections, as well as Chairman Bob Brady and the Committee for their efforts to move the Fair Elections Now Act forward," continued Donnelly. "Americans from across the political spectrum want to put elections back in the hands of voters—and this bill would do just that."

The Fair Elections Now Act would make politicians accountable to voters instead of special interests and lobbyists. With Fair Elections, candidates can run competitive campaigns for office by relying on small donations from people back home. The legislation has the broad, bipartisan, and cross-caucus support of 165 U.S. House members, including lead sponsors Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Larson (D-Conn.) and Rep. Jones (R-N.C.).

Learn more about Fair Elections at www.fairelectionsnow.org.

http://fairelectionsnow.org/media-center/house-panel-bring-historic-legislation-reduce-corporate-financed-congressional-election

[DrToast]

1. Sweet. More legislation to die in the Senate.*

*

[immoderate]

2. Interesting. I can't see any other scenario playing out.

This is Republican Senator's bread and butter.

--imm

[dmr]

4. It has only 3 Republicans

Todd Platts PA-19
Walter Jones NC-03 (co-sponsor)
Mike Castle DE-00 (lost primary to O'Donnell)

Yup, this is the pug's bread & butter.

[flpoljunkie]

6. It is great to have even one Republican cosponsor a bill in today's Congress.

[flpoljunkie]

7. It certainly will die if we do not make our voices heard. Will we, is the question.

[ProSense]

3. It has many sponsors in both the House and Senate

Fair Elections Now Act Co-sponsors

[flpoljunkie]

5. Thanks, ProSense.

Did you see that Rep. John Larson has filed a new Fair Elections Now Act bill. He has obviously made some changes in the bill, and is apparently the bill that will be voted on in the House committee next week.

H.R.6116
Title: Fair Elections Now Act

Sponsor: Rep Larson, John B. (introduced 9/14/2010) Cosponsors (11)
Related Bills: H.R.1826, S.752

Latest Major Action: 9/14/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

[ProSense]

8. Cool, thanks. n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. This bill was introduced in March of 2009, and they are finally getting around to it?

[flpoljunkie]

10. Actually Rep. Larson has introduced a new version of FENA.

Search http://thomas.loc.gov for Fair Elections Now Act.

[bindelh]

11. Putting elections back in the hands of voters

Starting with Boehner

What a Novel Thought