Fair Elections Now Act

This bill would create a voluntary public financing program for candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives, paid from a new Fair Elections Fund in the Treasury. Candidates who collect a set number of small in-state contributions and at least $50,000 in such contributions could be certified to receive set allocations for primary and general elections, plus a 500 percent match on small in-state donations of up to $100. In exchange, participating candidates could accept only these small contributions and public funds, could not spend personal or family money, must take part in public debates, and must return unspent public funds after the election. The bill also creates a five-member oversight board, sends half of federal election civil penalties to the Fund, bans joint fundraising committees, and requires all campaign reports to be filed electronically with the Federal Election Commission.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• John B. Larson Democrat sponsor
• 0 cosponsors