Representative
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

RE: Support Clean Elections

Dear Representative ,

I strongly urge you to cosponsor and actively support the Clean Money, Clean Elections Act (HR 3099). This important bill would bring a proven system of campaign finance reform to the federal level, freeing politicians from the burdens of constant fundraising and helping to restore the people's faith in our elected officials.

Clean Elections campaign reform is already working in 7 states and 2 cities. It helps keep politicians working for the voters and not for the special interests and their lobbyists by providing public campaign funding to qualified candidates that agree to forgo private contributions and follow strict spending limits.

The Clean Money, Clean Elections Act establishes a voluntary system that gives candidates an option for public financing and reduced rates and limitations on broadcast advertising in exchange for self-imposed limitations on campaign financing. In order to stay competitive, participating candidates also get a dollar-for-dollar match, up to a set limit, if challenged by a non-participating opponent.

The bill would accomplish five key objectives favored by most Americans:

1. Eliminate the perceived and real conflicts of interest caused by the financing of campaigns by private interests.
2. Limit campaign spending by requiring that candidates who choose to participate in the Clean Money, Clean Elections system spend no more than the fixed amount of Clean Money, Clean Elections funding they receive.
3. Allow qualified individuals to run for office regardless of their economic status or access to large contributors.
4. Free candidates and elected officials from the burden of continuous fundraising.
5. Shorten the effective length of campaigns (when the public is bombarded with broadcast ads and mass mailings) by defining the point at which candidates receive Clean Money, Clean Elections funding to pay for campaign expenditures.

As long as wealthy interests provide the majority of campaign funding, the interests of ordinary Americans will not be served. Publicly funded campaigns are the key to clean elections—to an open and responsive government that is truly of the people. It's time to bring back the power of citizens to elect representatives not bought and paid for by special-interest lobbyists and big-money donors. Please cosponsor HR 3099 and do everything you can to pass it.

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