Here is the reply I received from Senator Bennet regarding campaign finance reform. I am amazed at how he didn't even have the decency to acknowledge lobbyist reform.
| hide details Jan 27 (9 days ago) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dear Jeremy:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Fair Elections Now Act of 2009 (S. 752). I
appreciate hearing from you.
Let me begin by saying that I am open to re-evaluating our current campaign finance
laws. I believe any changes to existing laws must strive to promote fairness,
transparency, and integrity in our federal election process.
As you may know, S. 752 was introduced by Senator Durbin and would amend the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to allow House and Senate candidates
the choice to run for office through publically funded campaigns. Through a mixture of
base subsidies, matching funds, and broadcast vouchers, the only limit to funding would
be the number of individual $100 contributions that the public funding would match with
$400 dollars, donated per election within the district or state.
Critics of current campaign finance laws believe that the ever growing costs of running a
campaign and the resulting reliance on wealthy donors, groups and committees to
finance campaigns have undermined the integrity and transparency of the electoral
system. Those wishing to reform campaign finance laws with efforts such as S. 752 claim
the candidates would be freed from constant fundraising and be able to better focus on
the needs of the people they seek to represent. Supporters maintain that by replacing
private funds with public money, the corrupting influence of large private contributions
could be lessened somewhat.
Opponents of public financing question whether real or apparent corruption from private
fundraising is as serious a problem as critics claim. They argue that public financing would
be an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars and would allocate taxpayer dollars to
candidates they do not support.
Currently, S. 752, the Fair Elections Now Act, has been referred to the Senate Committee
on Rules and Administration. Although I am not a member of this Committee, should this
legislation reach the full Senate I will keep your thoughts in mind.
I value the input of fellow Coloradans in considering the wide variety of important issues
and legislative initiatives that come before the Senate. I hope you will continue to inform
me of your thoughts and concerns.
For more information about my priorities as a U.S. Senator, I invite you to visit my
website at http://bennet.senate.gov/. Again, thank you for contacting me.
Sincerely,
Michael Bennet
United States Senator
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Fair Elections Now Act of 2009 (S. 752). I
appreciate hearing from you.
Let me begin by saying that I am open to re-evaluating our current campaign finance
laws. I believe any changes to existing laws must strive to promote fairness,
transparency, and integrity in our federal election process.
As you may know, S. 752 was introduced by Senator Durbin and would amend the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to allow House and Senate candidates
the choice to run for office through publically funded campaigns. Through a mixture of
base subsidies, matching funds, and broadcast vouchers, the only limit to funding would
be the number of individual $100 contributions that the public funding would match with
$400 dollars, donated per election within the district or state.
Critics of current campaign finance laws believe that the ever growing costs of running a
campaign and the resulting reliance on wealthy donors, groups and committees to
finance campaigns have undermined the integrity and transparency of the electoral
system. Those wishing to reform campaign finance laws with efforts such as S. 752 claim
the candidates would be freed from constant fundraising and be able to better focus on
the needs of the people they seek to represent. Supporters maintain that by replacing
private funds with public money, the corrupting influence of large private contributions
could be lessened somewhat.
Opponents of public financing question whether real or apparent corruption from private
fundraising is as serious a problem as critics claim. They argue that public financing would
be an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars and would allocate taxpayer dollars to
candidates they do not support.
Currently, S. 752, the Fair Elections Now Act, has been referred to the Senate Committee
on Rules and Administration. Although I am not a member of this Committee, should this
legislation reach the full Senate I will keep your thoughts in mind.
I value the input of fellow Coloradans in considering the wide variety of important issues
and legislative initiatives that come before the Senate. I hope you will continue to inform
me of your thoughts and concerns.
For more information about my priorities as a U.S. Senator, I invite you to visit my
website at http://bennet.senate.gov/. Again, thank you for contacting me.
Sincerely,
Michael Bennet
United States Senator
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