Ethics and Campaign Finance Reform

Statement by Chellie Pingree on Campaign Finance Reform and Ethics

Too many people have lost faith in our elected leaders because of the way Washington does business. We need serious ethics and campaign finance reform to begin to restore Americans' belief that government can work for them.

Reducing the role of money in elections is a critically important reform. I'm very proud that the people of Maine were leaders with the Clean Elections law. Public financing of campaigns is the only real solution to changing how we run elections in this country. We've seen how well the 'Clean Elections' system works here. Now it's time to establish a public financing system for Congressional elections. I know how much of candidates' time fundraising takes. That's time that could be spent talking with voters and listening to their concerns. Public financing removes the burden of nonstop fundraising.

As President of Common Cause, I worked closely with Senator Dick Durbin and his staff to introduce the Fair Elections Now Act, which is largely modeled on Maine's Clean Elections law. I was thrilled when Senator Durbin agreed to sponsor this bill, knowing what a difference it has made in Maine.

I hope that voting for public financing in the House -- and convincing my colleagues to do the same -- is one of the first things I do if I am elected to Congress. We have waited long enough for this change.

As president of Common Cause, I fought for serious and significant ethics reform in Congress, especially in the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal. I testified before Congress on the need for an independent ethics commission and fought for the ethics reform bill that Congress eventually passed and I believe that, although it's a good start, it still doesn't go far enough.
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More about Ethics and Campaign Finance Reform
Selected Statements from Chellie's Common Cause Tenure

More about Ethics and Campaign Finance Reform

The Fair Elections Now Act would allow qualified Congressional candidates to voluntarily bypass special interest money and receive campaign financing from a public fund. The legislation is modeled after successful programs in Maine and Arizona.

Fundraising would be limited to "seed money" in amounts of no more than $100 per person to pay for campaign start-up costs. Candidates would also be required to show that they are serious contenders by raising qualifying contributions of $5 each from a minimum number of state residents, based on the population of the state.

Recently David Donnelly, National Campaign Director for Public Campaign, praised Chellie for her efforts. Donnelly cited "the longtime leadership of Chellie Pingree, who worked tirelessly to advance fairness and equality in our elections as President of Common Cause."

Pingree also renewed her call for tighter Congressional ethics rules -- including an independent ethics commission and a prohibition on any gifts from lobbyists, including travel and entertainment.

At Common Cause, Pingree also fought for serious and significant ethics reform in Congress in the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal. Pingree testified before Congress on the need for an independent ethics commission and supported the 2006 ethics bill. She considers the bill a good start but believes that Congress needs to pass even tougher ethics reform.

Maine has had clean election money for candidates running for state office since 1996. As President of Common Cause, Pingree helped get public financing laws passed in Connecticut, North Carolina, and Albuquerque, NM.

Pingree also campaigned for public financing of elections in California, taking Maine Senator Peter Mills to Sacramento to meet with Governor Schwarzenegger. "It was an interesting day," she said, "but we didn't quite convince him."

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Selected Common Cause Statements (for complete listing, click here)

Senate Adopts Stronger Ethics and Lobbying Rules; A Significant Step Away from Corruption January 19, 2007

New ethics rules are bold and meaningful; independent enforcement still needed January 4, 2007

301 Congressional Candidates Pledge to Put Voters First September 27, 2006

Reform Groups Call on Congressional Ethics Committees to Investigate Abramoff Lobbying Scandals February 9, 2006

Pingree to testify before House Government Reform Committee February 1, 2006

Statement by Common Cause President Chellie Pingree at Congressional Ethics Coalition Press Conference January 23, 2006

Passage of Clean Elections bill means Connecticut citizens could get more responsive elected officials December 1, 2005