Press Releases
New Jersey, New York City Elections a Win for Public Funding, a Loss for Big Money
Governor-Elect Christie, Mayoral Candidate Thompson Post Unexpectedly Strong Results with Public Funding In-spite of Major Funding Disadvantage
In two closely-watched elections in New Jersey and New York City November 3rd, the high-spending incumbent governor and mayor, respectively, fell far short of expectations despite committing tens of millions of dollars from their personal fortunes to the race. Publicly-funded opponents in both races, meanwhile, posted strong results, even as they were outspent by as much as 14-to-1.
As Supreme Court hears landmark campaign finance case, missing is a public funding solution both sides can get behind
Statement of Americans for Campaign Reform, 9/9/09
When the United States Supreme Court today rehears the campaign finance case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC), it will be calling into question no less than sixty years of established precedent limiting corporate spending in federal elections.
ACR applauds House Ethics Committee investigation of PMA scandal, calls for real reform of influence-peddling in Washington
CONCORD, NH - Americans for Campaign Reform (ACR) today applauded the House Ethics Committee for initiating an investigation of PMA group, the now-defunct lobbying firm with close financial ties to senior Democratic lawmakers, and called for sweeping reform to congressional campaign finance law in order to prevent future scandals.
Bipartisan Former Senators Call for End of Pay-to-Play Politics Through Fair Elections Now Legislation
Americans for Campaign Reform and Fifty Former Governors and Members of Congress Announce Support for Durbin-Specter, Larson-Jones bill
(Concord, NH) Former Senators Bill Bradley (D-NJ), Bob Kerrey (D-NE), Warren Rudman (R-NH) and Al Simpson (R-WY), co-chairs of the national nonprofit Americans for Campaign Reform, today called on their former colleagues in Congress to end their unhealthy reliance on special interest money by passing the bipartisan, bicameral Fair Elections Now Act, set for introduction today. The Senators were joined by a bipartisan team of more than fifty former Members of Congress and senior administration officials in both political parties, who are working with Americans for Campaign Reform to press for comprehensive reform in the 111th Congress.
Americans for Campaign Reform Announces Support of Fair Elections Now Legislation
Former Senators Speak Out
(Concord, NH - March 25) Americans For Campaign Reform, a bi-partisan advocacy group based in Concord, NH, has announced their support of the Fair Elections Now Act. The legislation, which will be introduced this week, provides for voluntary public funding of all Senate and House elections. Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Specter (R-PA) will introduce the Senate bill while Representatives Larson (D-CT) and Jones (R-NC) will introduce similar legislation in the House. These bills respect the importance of citizen involvement in elections by providing a match of public funds for small donations received from a candidate's constituents.
PMA Case Highlights Pay-to-Play System in Defense Appropriations, ACR Report Finds
Recent campaign finance scandals involving senior Members of Congress and Cabinet appointees shed light on the entrenched system of pay-to-play politics and wasteful government spending under the law, according to a new report by the nonpartisan group Americans for Campaign Reform. The FBI raid this week of the offices of the lobbying group PMA, on charges it used campaign contributions to Rep. John Murtha (D-VA) and other members of the Defense Appropriations Committee to win hundreds of millions of dollars in earmark appropriations for its clients, is a case in point.
Report Finds Pattern of Wall Street Influence-Peddling in Washington
As Wall Street firms shed employees and cut lending in a time of global economic recession, one category of spending by America's major banks that has yet to be reduced, according to an Americans for Campaign Reform report: lobbying the federal government. Lobbying disclosures filed with the government this week confirm that many of the banks that benefited from $350 billion in taxpayer funds under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) continued to invest millions of dollars in government lobbying and campaign contributions in the fourth quarter of 2008.
ACR Applauds Move by Obama Administration and Senators to Limit Lobbying By Financial Companies Using Bailout Funds, Urges Further Action
Americans for Campaign Reform (ACR) applauds recent actions by the Treasury Department and Members of Congress to prevent financial institutions receiving taxpayer bailouts under the Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP) to continue spending those funds to lobby government officials. The new Treasury Department ruling will limit contacts with lobbyist whose firms receive public funds, while Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) seek legislation to bar banking and credit card companies from using those monies for lobbying or campaign contributions.