In a post on The Hill Blog, The
Incumbency Problem Has Everything to do with Money, I wrote that the
availability of low contribution limits and public financing help challengers
in elections against incumbents. Professor
Hayward replied here, and was
somewhat dismissive of the Brennan
Center research inspired
by Randall v. Sorrell that proves
these points.
After paraphrasing Prof. Hayward's statements at our
recent conference for the blog, I checked the transcript. Here's what Prof. Hayward said, "So ask
yourselves, and this is my closing thought: as passionate reformers, how much
of what you dislike about political funding is a problem of incumbency rather
than a problem of money?" Given this, I
do not think it was misleading to write: "panelist Professor Allison Hayward, a
skeptic of campaign finance reform, asked whether reformers should really focus
more on incumbency than they do on limits on money in politics."
The banking industry, recently described by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) as the “most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill,” has maintained its hold over Congress even after causing the current financial meltdown. While discussing the mortgage crisis on Bill Moyers’ Journal on May 8, Senator Durbin, co-sponsor of the Fair Elections Now Act (FENA), stated that the “way we finance our campaigns” lies at the heart of the current crisis. His solution is FENA, a bill that will provide public financing to congressional candidates.
By giving congressional candidates the option to run their campaigns with money free of any strings attached, FENA ensures that politicians will not make legislative decisions out of a sense of indebtedness to large contributors but will vote their conscience. Senator Durbin declared that now is the “time for us to move to public financing, for the good of the country,” and it certainly seems that the potent combination of economic collapse and political challenges means that there is no time like the present to fully consider how to change business as usual in Washington.
At a press event on Monday May 11, Representative Larson (D-CT), co-sponsor of the House version of FENA, stated that due to the bill’s importance, he hopes to push the bill through the House before the end of the summer. The House version of FENA, co-sponsored by Rep. Larson (D-CT) and Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), now has 31 co-sponsors.
A widely attended conference convened by the Brennan Center for Justice brought together academics, activists, politicians, Obama Administration officials and even an actor in a packed hall at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on May 8th (click here to learn more about the conference).
A day-long conference, "Money in Politics 2009: Horizons for Reform," convened by the Brennan Center [click here to see agenda, and follow on twitter: #bccfr], will take place today, May 8th, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The focus is on innovations that address the nexus between money and politics. One such proposal is the Fair Elections Now Act ("FENA"). The Act would build on successes in the states with systems of voluntary public funding of elections.
Embracing their role as "laboratories for democracy," three states, Arizona, Connecticut and Maine, enacted voluntary public funding programs for legislative and statewide elections following well-publicized scandals to reduce the power of well-heeled special interests and to enhance the participation of ordinary citizens as both candidates and voters in the political process.
Last week, Congress took a major step forward with the introduction of the Fair Elections Now Act (FENA). Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Specter (R-PA) led the charge in the Senate, while Representatives Jones (R-NC) and Larson (D-CT) introduced the House bill. The bills’ formal introductions triggered a flow of bi-partisan support from members of both chambers. Some members of Congress reflected on the positive experience in their home states with voluntary public funding programs. Video of the introductory events can be viewed here.
Political corruption scandals have emerged in recent months in
various offices and states across the country.
But nowhere are they more conspicuous than in Illinois, a state that has been plagued by political
corruption for more than a century. From
the arrest of former Governor Rod Blagojevich and his subsequent impeachment
and removal from office, to the revelations this week that Senate appointee
Roland Burris's involvement in raising contributions for the Governor may have contradicted
sworn statements to Illinois lawmakers, there
is no denying that Illinois'
longstanding wound has been re-opened.
State contracts for sale in New Mexico, a Senate seat for auction in Illinois, blind eyes turned to underregulated mortgage and municipal bond markets, indictments of New York legislators. Each new scandal is a reminder that pay-to-play—the exchange of favors for campaign contributions to politicians—is alive and well in the halls of government.
The passage of an $800 billion stimulus package means that millions of tax payer dollars are sure to trickle to state governments—and into the pockets of state contractors who will try to purchase favors with campaign contributions.
On Wednesday evening, law professor and technology visionary
Lawrence Lessig discussed his non-partisan reform initiative "Change Congress"
at a Netroots Nation event. Launched by Lessig and Joe Trippi earlier
this year, Change Congress is a
national grassroots movement designed to end corruption in Congress and reduce
the influence of big money in politics.
One of the central tenets of Change Congress is the need for public
financing of congressional campaigns, an initiative that provides a structural remedy
to a corrupting political system in which lawmakers must engage in never-ending
dash for campaign cash.
Enter Change.org, an
online forum for effecting social and political change around key issues of the
day (and not to be confused with President-elect's Barack Obama's transition
website change.gov). Last month,
Change.org launched the innovative project "Ideas for Change in America," through
which the public can make their voices heard by the new administration. Any individual can submit an idea for change that
he or she wants to see the President-elect tackle. The top ten ideas, as voted on by the public,
will be presented to the Obama Administration on Inauguration Day.
On Wednesday evening, law professor and technology visionary
Lawrence Lessig discussed his non-partisan reform initiative "Change Congress"
at a
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