Durbin: Publicly fund Congress races

Durbin: Publicly fund Congress races
By Christi Parsons
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune
Published March 21, 2007

WASHINGTON -- After years of opposing the idea of taxpayer-financed campaigns, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Tuesday introduced legislation that would let congressional candidates apply for public money to run their campaigns.

The plan would make a total of $2.8 billion available every election for candidates who demonstrate a basic level of support by raising "seed money" but then agree to limit their campaign spending to the amount allocated from public funds.

In details similar to those contained in a House bill, the Senate proposal would allow candidates to give up the rigors of fundraising without having to "unilaterally disarm" against well-funded opponents, supporters said.

"Today the amount of money spent in top 10 competitive Senate races averages $34 million per campaign, double what it was just four years ago," Durbin said. "It takes a mountain of money just to lose a Senate campaign. This is not sustainable."

Reports on the latest fundraising figures for competitive Senate races inspired the change of heart, Durbin said. For years he has opposed public funding for campaigns because he did not think the government should direct any public money to candidates like David Duke, the Louisiana Ku Klux Klansman who twice ran for president.

The Fair Elections Now Act would let participating candidates spend some money in the early going, solely for campaign start-up costs, raised via contributions of no more than $100.

Then, major-party candidates who raised qualifying contributions of $5 each from a minimum number of state residents, based on population, could apply for Fair Elections funds. In Illinois, for example, a candidate for Senate would have to raise $5 a person from 11,000 people.

Different rules would apply for minor-party and independent candidates. They would have to raise 150 percent of the qualifying contributions required of major-party candidates.

The amount of money available to the candidates would depend on population and on the costs in media markets covering each state. Candidates cashing in on the plan would get vouchers for buying broadcast airtime.

The law also would require television and radio stations to give the Fair Elections candidates a 20 percent discount on airtime within two months of the election date.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), who helped draft the bill and joined Durbin to unveil the measure Tuesday, said he thinks the proposal would set the runaway campaign finance system on a more sensible course.

Even if contributions from special interests do not influence a public official, Specter said, people often think they do.

"I believe this will be a significant step in improving public confidence," Specter said.

----------

cparsons@tribune.com