Official Bill Info

• Latest Action: Apr 06, 2011 Introduced in House

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  I know the most recent action for this bill is as follows: "Introduced in House" on Apr 06, 2011
• Committee Assignment: House Administration

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  This bill has been assigned to the House Administration committee.

Bill Statistics on OpenCongress

PPF Talking Points

• The Fair Elections Now Act would allow federal candidates to run for office without relying on large contributions, big money bundlers, or donations from lobbyists, allowing them more time to focus on what people in their communities want.

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  The Fair Elections Now Act would allow federal candidates to run for office without relying on large contributions, big money bundlers, or donations from lobbyists, allowing them more time to focus on what people in their communities want.
• Members of Congress spend between 25 and 50 percent of their time on fundraising. That time would be better spent meeting with constituents or working on solving national issues.

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  Members of Congress spend between 25 and 50 percent of their time on fundraising. That time would be better spent meeting with constituents or working on solving national issues.
• The Fair Elections Now Act encourages candidates to reach out to broad swaths of constituents, not just wealthy ones, by providing 5-to-1 matching funds for contributions under $100.

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  The Fair Elections Now Act encourages candidates to reach out to broad swaths of constituents, not just wealthy ones, by providing 5-to-1 matching funds for contributions under $100.
• In 2010, Senator Dick Durbin admitted: "The banks -- hard to believe in a time when we're facing a banking crisis that many of the banks created -- are still the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill. And they frankly own the place."

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  In 2010, Senator Dick Durbin admitted: "The banks -- hard to believe in a time when we're facing a banking crisis that many of the banks created -- are still the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill. And they frankly own the place."

Contribution Data

OpenCongress Bill Summary

• This bill would establish a public funding system for House elections and outlines eligibility and contribution requirements, as well as prohibitions such as those on joint fundraising committees. Under the system, candidates would raise a large number of small-donor contributions in order to receive additional public Fair Elections funding, $900,000 split 40/60 between the primary and general elections. Fair Election candidates would be eligible for additional public funds if they continue to raise more small donations. The system would be funded through a new fee on government contractors and through an auction of unused broadcast spectrum.

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  Here's a summary from OpenCongress.org: This bill would establish a public funding system for House elections and outlines eligibility and contribution requirements, as well as prohibitions such as those on joint fundraising committees. Under the system, candidates would raise a large number of small-donor contributions in order to receive additional public Fair Elections funding, $900,000 split 40/60 between the primary and general elections. Fair Election candidates would be eligible for additional public funds if they continue to raise more small donations. The system would be funded through a new fee on government contractors and through an auction of unused broadcast spectrum.

Supporting Organizations

• Public Campaign

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  I know that the organization Public Campaign supports H.R.1404
• Demos

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  I know that the organization Demos supports H.R.1404
• Progressives United

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  I know that the organization Progressives United supports H.R.1404
• Public Citizen

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  I know that the organization Public Citizen supports H.R.1404
• Common Cause

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  I know that the organization Common Cause supports H.R.1404
• Brennan Center for Justice

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  I know that the organization Brennan Center for Justice supports H.R.1404
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

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  I know that the organization National Association for the Advancement of Colored People supports H.R.1404

Opposing Organizations

• Center for Competitive Politics

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  I know that the organization Center for Competitive Politics opposes H.R.1404

Most-commented sections of the bill text

• ‘(a) In General- The Commission shall pay to each participating candidate an amount equal to 500 percent of the amount of qualified small dollar contributions received by the candidate from individuals who are residents of the State in which such participating candidate is seeking election. (1 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "‘(a) In General- The Commission shall pay to each participating candidate an amount equal to 500 percent of the amount of qualified small dollar contributions received by the candidate from individuals who are residents of the State in which such participating candidate is seeking election.",

Highest Rated User Comments

• On November 10, 2011, by drm - For more info about the Fair Elections Now Act, visit "FairElectionsNow.org":http://fairelectionsnow.org, including "details":http://fairelectionsnow.org/about-bill of how the bill would work and a long list of its many diverse "supporting organizations":http://fairelectionsnow.org/supporters (including the non-profit "Participatory Politics Foundation":http://www.participatorypolitics.org ).

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  As noted by drm, a user on OpenCongress.org, on November 10, 2011, "For more info about the Fair Elections Now Act, visit "FairElectionsNow.org":http://fairelectionsnow.org, including "details":http://fairelectionsnow.org/about-bill of how the bill would work and a long list of its many diverse "supporting organizations":http://fairelectionsnow.org/supporters (including the non-profit "Participatory Politics Foundation":http://www.participatorypolitics.org )."
• On November 10, 2011, by drm - This bill's current status is that it was referred to the "House Administration Committee":http://cha.house.gov/, which is chaired by "Rep. Dan Lungren":http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/400617_Daniel_Lungren [R, CA-03], full membership "here":http://cha.house.gov/about/membership. Contact these reps using "OC":http://www.opencongress.org/people/representatives?sort=name and encourage them to take up h.r. 1404 -- and be certain to reference the "money trail":http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h1404/money behind the bill.

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  As noted by drm, a user on OpenCongress.org, on November 10, 2011, "This bill's current status is that it was referred to the "House Administration Committee":http://cha.house.gov/, which is chaired by "Rep. Dan Lungren":http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/400617_Daniel_Lungren [R, CA-03], full membership "here":http://cha.house.gov/about/membership. Contact these reps using "OC":http://www.opencongress.org/people/representatives?sort=name and encourage them to take up h.r. 1404 -- and be certain to reference the "money trail":http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h1404/money behind the bill. "
• On November 10, 2011, by jesselava - Kudos for supporting the Fair Elections Now Act. We need to encourage accountable democracy by breaking the stranglehold that big money has on elections. I'm a campaign director at Brave New Foundation, and through our own work on the Koch Brothers and others, we've seen how corrosive money in politics can be. Keep up the good work. Jesse Lava Brave New Foundation

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  As noted by jesselava, a user on OpenCongress.org, on November 10, 2011, "Kudos for supporting the Fair Elections Now Act. We need to encourage accountable democracy by breaking the stranglehold that big money has on elections. I'm a campaign director at Brave New Foundation, and through our own work on the Koch Brothers and others, we've seen how corrosive money in politics can be. Keep up the good work. Jesse Lava Brave New Foundation"

Highly Rated Blog Articles

• Government Policy: The State of Campaign Finance Policy: Recent ... - July 25, 2012 by Alerts - S. 750 (see also S. 749; H.R. 1404) is the latest version of the Fair Elections Now Act (FENA), which would publicly finance Senate campaigns. The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human ...

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  As noted by Alerts on July 25, 2012, "S. 750 (see also S. 749; H.R. 1404) is the latest version of the Fair Elections Now Act (FENA), which would publicly finance Senate campaigns. The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human ..." (/url?q=http://government-policy.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-state-of-campaign-finance-policy.html&sa=U&ei=zT4TUOj1A4-O8wSKoICYAg&ved=0CCEQmAEwAQ&usg=AFQjCNFl6xIx1-qUe_4GusxUwB22n9o3Tg)
• Government Policy: The State of Campaign Finance Policy: Recent ... - July 25, 2012 by Alerts - S. 750 (see also S. 749; H.R. 1404) is the latest version of the Fair Elections Now Act (FENA), which would publicly finance Senate campaigns. The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human ...

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  As noted by Alerts on July 25, 2012, "S. 750 (see also S. 749; H.R. 1404) is the latest version of the Fair Elections Now Act (FENA), which would publicly finance Senate campaigns. The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human ..." (/url?q=http://government-policy.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-state-of-campaign-finance-policy.html&sa=U&ei=EdoRUO2tO4aw8ATD4oHADg&ved=0CCIQmAEwAQ&usg=AFQjCNHNQ0_vek05dCTfB3RWPg1nklIvlg)
• U.S. Senate Constitution Subcommittee Hearing « Street Justice - May 17, 2012 by shellybernal - The most comprehensive and effective is The Fair Elections Now Act (S. 750 and H.R. 1404). It was re-introduced in 2011 in the Senate by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and in the House of Representatives by Reps. John Larson ...

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  As noted by shellybernal on May 17, 2012, "The most comprehensive and effective is The Fair Elections Now Act (S. 750 and H.R. 1404). It was re-introduced in 2011 in the Senate by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and in the House of Representatives by Reps. John Larson ..." (/url?q=http://streetjusticesociety.com/2012/05/16/u-s-senate-constitution-subcommittee-hearing/&sa=U&ei=p5W8T8zrLqWlsAKU-JAe&ved=0CC8QmAEwAg&usg=AFQjCNGSA80be-BXkrl_GfU3tPbfmvL8lw)

Highly Rated News Articles

• Bills of the 111th Congress Concerning Climate Change - October 19, 2012 by The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions - The bills, resolutions, and amendments of the 112th Congress dealing with climate change are divided into the following categories: H.R.300: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Act This bill would reestablish the National Oceanic and Atmosphe

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  As noted by The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions on October 19, 2012, "The bills, resolutions, and amendments of the 112th Congress dealing with climate change are divided into the following categories: H.R.300: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Act This bill would reestablish the National Oceanic and Atmosphe" (http://www.c2es.org/federal/congress/111/climate-change-legislative-proposals)
• BR — Nick Nyhart: "The Demand For Campaign Cash" - May 11, 2011 by Boston Review - ...people back home. He is a cosponsor of legislation that would ensure just that, the recently introduced Fair Elections Now Act (H.R.1404). The measure would offer candidates the option of running entirely on small donations supplemented by public funds,

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  As noted by Boston Review on May 11, 2011, "...people back home. He is a cosponsor of legislation that would ensure just that, the recently introduced Fair Elections Now Act (H.R.1404). The measure would offer candidates the option of running entirely on small donations supplemented by public funds," (http://www.bostonreview.net/BR36.3/ndf_nick_nyhart_fixing_congress.php)