Campaign Finance Reform: Clean Money Basics

How does Clean Money work?

Clean Money levels the playing field and reduces the influence of special interest money. Qualified candidates who agree to spending limits and to raise little or no private money can receive a limited amount of public money. Candidates qualify by demonstrating broad public support from their districts.

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How do they demonstrate support?

Generally speaking, participating candidates must raise a large number of small contributions in a limited period of time. The details vary from state to state and from office to office. For example, a candidate for state Senate in Maine must collect 150 qualifying contributions of $5 each from voters in the district. In Massachusetts, a state Senate candidate must collect 450 contributions between $5 and $100 from voters in the district.

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Is Clean Money voluntary?

Yes. Under the governing case in campaign finance law, Buckley v. Valeo, the only constitutional way to set spending limits is to provide a candidate the incentive to limit their own spending. Clean Money provides full public funding in exchange for a candidate agreeing to limit their own spending.

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But what happens to a candidate who limits their spending when they run against someone who doesn't?

Clean Money reform provides additional matching funds for participating candidates who face someone who exceeds the voluntary spending limits. For example, if you and I are running against each other, and I'm a Clean candidate, and you're raising and spending more than what I have, then I receive matching funds to keep pace up to a certain limit. We don't want unlimited spending, so we cap it two or three times the original spending limit. It doesn't stop you from spending as much as you want. It does provide a qualified participant the chance to compete.

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Is Clean Money constitutional? Is it fair?

These laws have received a clean bill of constitutional health from bothfederal and state courts. And they're actually very fair, especially in relation to the current system, in which challengers regularly get outspent by three or four to one on average.

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How much would this cost?

In the states where this system has been implemented, it has cost less than one-tenth of one percent of the state budget. None of the laws passed by initiative have resulted in tax increases. A federal system would cost every taxpayer only about $10 a year. This, if compared against the billions of dollars in special interest favors, is a pittance. Frankly, our democracy is worth more than ten bucks a year. the past, and allows voters to learn more about both candidates. Voters win in this case.

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Are new people running? What types of candidates are running?

Yes, new people are seeking office under the laws in these different states, as are many incumbent officeholders. In Maine, for example, several candidates are people who not so long ago were on welfare, or working minimum wage jobs. These reform measures allow candidates of all backgrounds - including those who have little access to wealth - to run competitively for office. Just to give you a sense of what the laws mean to candidates, let me read you a quote from a first-time candidate in Maine, Jolene Lovejoy, who is a Republican and the president of her local Rotary Club:

"I felt it was the right thing to do. It removes any stigma from the candidate - any feeling of, or actually being, indebted. My bottom line is this. I'm running to represent the people who live here, and keep an eye on the state of Maine. I'm not there for business, or unions, just people."
Now that may seem like standard political fare, but it actually in practice represents a wholesale change in how candidates relate to voters and how elected officials relate to constituents.

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