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Insufficient Plan from Democrats to Rid Politics of Big Money

Press Release / Last Updated:

Statement by Elisabeth MacNamara, President, League of Women Voters of the United States

On Senate Democrats’ Campaign Finance Proposal

Washington, DC - “We are disappointed that the Senate Democrats’ campaign finance proposal, announced today, falls short of what is needed to keep big money from dominating our politics,” said Elisabeth MacNamara, President of the League of Women Voters of the U.S.  “Public financing is a critically important part of protecting our democracy and putting voters first,” she continued, “and they left it out.”

“The League strongly supports a comprehensive approach to big money in politics that includes enhanced disclosure, ending Super PACs and other outside spending coordinated with candidates, restructuring the Federal Election Commission (FEC) so it can be an effective enforcement agency, and public financing for congressional as well as presidential elections,” MacNamara said.

“We do applaud the Senators’ support for three of these four elements.  However, the package is incomplete without public financing,” MacNamara said.

“While the League welcomes any reform proposals that move us ahead, the Senate Democrats’ package is insufficient to the task.  It is certainly better than anything we have seen from Senate Republicans. But without public financing, candidates will be driven toward special interest money, and that would be a mistake,” she concluded.

Contact: Kelly Ceballos, 202-263-1331 or [email protected].

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