Top 10 Quotes from Congressional Hearing on Fair Elections
We're seeing millions of dollars pour into Congress every day this summer, shattering previous records and compounding the American people's lack of trust in their government. So last Thursday's hearing on the Fair Elections Now Act was an ideal time to have a conversation about what can be done to fix our broken system, where the interests with the most money win the most policy battles.
A hearing before the House Administration Committee is an important step for this legislation and provided an opportunity for a wide coalition of allies to voice their support for public funding. Here are the top ten quotes by testifying panel members.
1. "This hearing on H.R. 1826 is a critical step toward returning Washington back to the people, and is one of the most important hearings I’ve testified at in 15 years."
Rep. Walter B. Jones [R-NC]
2. "At first blush, the current campaign mess looks like a Gordian Knot. The cost of campaigns – and fundraising – is soaring, members face increasing pressure to fundraise for their own campaigns and their caucuses, and powerful interests with a financial stake in what you do are pouring record amounts into political contributions and sophisticated lobbying campaigns."
"The knot can be cut. Americans are hungry for change. Many members of Congress are hungry for change. The system you inherited does not serve you well, nor does it serve the public well."
Arn Pearson, Vice President of Programs, Common Cause
3. [On running for Congress] "I sat there in a little white room for hours upon hours for nearly two years trying to get to Washington, raising millions of dollars to make sure I had the resources so the voters knew who I was."
"Well, at exactly the same moment, my daughter, who was 26 years old, decided she would run for the state legislature. Maine had just implemented Clean Elections. So she collected the necessary number of qualifying contributions that she needed by asking people to give five dollars and say "yes, I want you to run for office." After that, she didn't have to raise another dime."
"And you know what she spent her time doing while I was locked in that little white room dialing for millions? She went to grocery stores, to fish piers, she knocked on the doors of every person in that district that she wanted to represent, she talked to everybody. And not just the people who could make a contribution, not just the people who knew about the cocktail party, she got to talk to everybody in that district. Some were people who’d never had a chance before to tell a politician what they think."
Rep. Chellie Pingree [D-ME]
4. "Public financing has encouraged many non-traditional candidates to run -- from young people and women to working people and single mothers -- because they don't have to have networks of wealthy friends and supporters or industry support for their candidacy."
Hannah M. Pingree, Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives
5. "For the price of a cup of coffee per American per year, you can return common sense to the nation’s capitol and leave a legacy for the next generation of voters and congressional candidates."
Arn Pearson, Vice President of Programs, Common Cause
6. "Connecticut’s public campaign financing program was an unqualified success in the first run for the 2008 General Assembly elections. Special interest money was virtually eliminated from 2008 State legislative campaigns. The availability of public funds encouraged new candidates to join the electoral process in 2008. The program encouraged electoral competition. The number of women running for the State Legislature reached an all time high under the Program."
Jeffrey B. Garfield, Executive Director & General Counsel Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission
7. "Members come here with all the integrity in the world and with the intention to serve their constituents and this great country, but the system of dialing for dollars has become corrosive."
Rep. John Larson [D-CT], Chairman, House Democratic Caucus
8. "In Washington we have a problem. Let me give you an example that I will never forget: in 2003, the House passed the Medicare prescription drug coverage bill. That night, the Leadership started the vote at 3:00 am and kept the vote open until 5:53 in the morning."
"That was a political Sodom and Gomorrah night. It was absolutely ugly. I remember lobbyists standing outside of the Chamber, and approaching Members on the streets. These were the same lobbyists that influenced the drafting of the bill, and have contributed over $10 million in a single election cycle."
Rep. Walter B. Jones [R-NC]
9. "Probably most significantly, public financing has created a separation between the vast majority of legislators and advocates and lobby groups. Under the Clean Elections system, Maine legislators don't receive campaign support from lobbyists. This makes it much easier to weigh their arguments on their mertis, and without fear of losing their support in the next campaign."
Hannah M. Pingree, Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives
10. "This is not a partisan issue. Hundreds of Democratic and Republican legislators, statewide officials and judges have been elected through similar systems at the state level over the past decade. Candidates who used state citizen-funded election programs now hold 85 percent of the seats in the Maine Legislature, 78 percent of the seats in the Connecticut General Assembly, 54 percent of the seats in the Arizona State Legislature, 80 percent of statewide elected offices in Arizona, and 68 percent of North Carolina’s top judicial positions."
Arn Pearson, Vice President of Programs, Common Cause
BONUS QUOTE:
"If it weren't for special interests coming to see us, we'd have nothing to do."
Rep. Gregg Harper [R-MS]
BONUS VIDEO: Sam Waterston of Law & Order visits Capitol Hill in support of public funding:
The full testimonies are available at the Committee's website.