Untitled Document
The most powerful influence in politics should be the citizen’s vote. Unfortunately, Big money plays far too great a role in American elections, drowning out the voices of ordinary citizens. Large contributions from a few people unduly influence who can run for office and who wins elections. This is simply not fair. USPIRG is working to make every candidate tell us exactly where his or her funding comes from, so voters can make an informed decision.
Campaigns:
Defend Campaign Finance Rules: Congress is considering a series of bills that lift campaign contribution limits, create enormous loopholes to allow candidates to evade certain rules, and even permit incumbents to play by a looser set of rules than challengers.
Cap Campaign Spending: Campaign spending limits are a common sense solution to the problem of the increasing dominance of money in politics. A wrongly decided 1975 Supreme Court case (Buckley v. Valeo) equated money with speech, barring these sensible reforms.
Call For Clean Money/Voters First Pledge: 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 decide.
In The States:
Reports:
Campaign Contribution Limits: No Harm To Challengers 6/1/06
Raising the Limits: A Bad Bet for Campaign Finance Reform 2/2/06
Making Safe Seats Safer 1/05
News Releases:
Coalition Letter to Senate: Support Electronic Filing of Campaign Finance Reports 9/26/06
Reformers Launch National “Voters First” Pledge to Build Support for Public Funding of Congressional Campaigns 6/29/06
Statement of Adam Lioz: Court Closes Door on Campaign Spending Limits 6/26/06
Splintered Supreme Court Overturns Vermont's Campaign Spending, Contributions Limits 6/26/06
Campaign Contribution Limits Do Not Harm Challengers, Study Shows 6/1/06
Letter to Congress: Support Full Funding for Help America Vote Act 4/20/06
Higher Contribution Limits Shortchange Reform 2/2/06
Less Competition Yields Greater Campaign Fundraising Disparity in Ohio 11/2/05
