We’ve been disappointed to see big banks receive billions in bailout funds, only to turn around and lobby for little to no oversight or accountability for how our taxpayer dollars were to be spent. Busy lobbying, the banks neglected the critical issue at hand: helping homeowners who face foreclosure. We cannot allow campaign cash and lobbying to win favors from Congress. We can't let pay to play politics continue in Washington, D.C. – not with so much at stake.

That's why we're pushing for change through citizen-funded Fair Elections.

The Fair Elections Now Act, sponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Reps. John Larsen (D-CT) and Walter Jones (R-NC), presents an exciting new approach to financing campaigns.  This bipartisan bill creates an alternative to big special interest money in politics by allowing congressional candidates to run a viable campaign on public funds and unlimited small contributions from ordinary citizens.  

Passing the Fair Elections Now Act will free Congress from spending time chasing contributions from lobbyists and corporate special interest groups, and will return to focus to solving the critical issues confronting our Nation's problems: the economy, health care, and energy.

The time for passing this landmark shift away from pay to play politics is now.  Tell your members of Congress to become co-sponsors of the Fair Elections Now Act!

For more information about Fair Elections, visit our Support Fair Elections Now page.

http://action.citizen.org/t/6693/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26850

As a constituent I am deeply concerned about the influence of large campaign contributions in Congress.  With many important issues facing my family and our nation, we need every lawmaker focused on their constituents instead of wealthy special interests.

The Fair Elections Now Act, sponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Reps. John Larsen (D-CT) and Walter Jones (R-NC), presents an exciting new approach to financing campaigns.  This bipartisan bill creates an alternative to big special interest money in politics by allowing congressional candidates to fund campaigns through public funding and unlimited small donations from constituents like me.  This bill will directly benefit you and other members of Congress by allowing you to devote more of your time and energy to talking with your constituents and tackling the important issues confronting our nation.
 
The Fair Elections Now Act is similar to legislation enacted in Connecticut that provides for public financing for political campaigns. Other states like Arizona, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Vermont have also passed legislation or initiatives allowing for the public financing of various levels of elections, as have the cities of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Portland, Oregon.

You often have been supportive of more accountability in government.  I’m asking you now to join your colleagues as a cosponsor to the Fair Elections Now Act to show your commitment to changing the system that calls into question both the integrity of our government and the confidence of voters like me.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to a constituent.  I look forward to your reply.