At the presidential level, the existing public financing program is woefully outdated and, unless fixed, will likely be bypassed by the major party candidates in 2008. A bill to modernize the previously successful 30 year old program is also expected by fall 2006.

The PIRGs have joined with a diverse coalition of organizations to urge all Congressional candidates to sign onto the Voters First Pledge. The Voters’ First Pledge asks candidates to support fundamental change to the way we fund campaigns including a system that gives public finding to candidates who agree to spending limits and don’t accept private contributions.

How You Can Help
Call your representative and ask him or her to sign the Voters First Pledge.

Summary
Sparked by public frustration with the a system that allows private, wealthy interests to pay for campaigns and determine our choices at the polls, an exciting new effort is underway to change the way politics is played in America. The push for real change at the federal level follows several successful programs now working in states like Arizona and Maine and in cities like Portland, OR and Albuquerque, NM. The Connecticut State Legislature just passed its own clean money system for statewide and legislative offices.

More than $4 billion dollars was spent in the 2004 federal elections and more than half of that money came from less than 1% of the voting age population. Under the current system, powerful interests decide for us who will have the money to get on the ballot and run a credible campaign. Under clean money systems, voters own their own elections. Legislators have more time to listen to the concerns of voters since they no longer have to spend all their time talking only with wealthy donors.