Overview
A record-setting $2.7 billion dollars was spent in the 2006 mid-term
federal elections and more than half of that money came in large
contributions from a small group of wealthy donors. Powerful interests
continued to dump more money than ever into congressional campaigns—the
average House race cost more than $1 million. The oil and gas industry
spent more than $14 million, health care interests spent $72 million
and financial services and insurance companies spent more than $190
million all to elect their favored candidates and to line up favors for
next year’s Congress. This process shortchanges the rest of us on
everything from environmental quality to tax policy to affordable
health care.
Under
the current system, powerful interests decide who will have the money
to get on the ballot and run a credible campaign. Voters are left with
fewer choices and candidates more accountable to their large donors
than constituents.
Under clean money systems like the one NHPIRG is looking to institute, candidates who
agree to spending limits and to forgo special interest cash, receive
public finding for their campaigns. Several states such as Arizona,
Connecticut and Maine now use the clean money system and are living
examples that it can and does work. In Maine, for example, more than 90
percent of the candidates now participate.
Additionally, several
attempts have been made in Congress to weaken existing campaign finance
laws. Such rollbacks would make it even harder for citizens to get
their voices heard on issues like healthcare, energy policy, education,
and public health and safety.
