HR 1 Will Give Average Americans Tools to Counter Big Money in Politics

The 116th Congress could make history with HR 1, a bold set of reforms that would make it easier for Americans to vote, crack down on money-in-politics corruption, and shine a light on dark money in political campaigns. We at Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, a grassroots organization working to ensure that Maine’s campaign finance laws, elections and government serve the public interest, believe that HR 1 is the set of reforms our country needs and voters want…. Maine has led the way on Clean Elections since 1996, when voters approved our own public funding option for state office candidates with the passage of the Maine Clean Election Act. In 2015, Mainers went back to the polls to reaffirm the act with a second referendum, expand the Clean Elections program, require additional transparency and disclosures, and increase fines for violations of the act…. The rise of big money in our politics is no reason to do away with campaign finance reform. It’s exactly why we need these reforms now more than ever. Regular people need a way to break the stranglehold of the rich and powerful on our government. That’s what Clean Elections programs are designed to do. These programs aren’t perfect, but they’re the best tool we have to give power back to the people.