New Mexico lawmaker joins effort to reform presidential campaign funding
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NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Democratic U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján, representing New Mexico, is joining a fellow lawmakers in an effort to dramatically change how presidential campaigns can be financed.
Ben Ray Luján, along with Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), Ted Lieu (D-California), and Derek Kilmer (D-Washington), recently revived legislation that aims to put publicly financed candidates on equal footing with privately financed campaigns in terms of fundraising and spending limits.
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The so-called “EMPOWER Act” would eliminate spending limits on publicly financed campaigns and increase matching funds. For example, the first $200 in contributions by individuals would be matched 6-to-1 by the government.
Participants, however, would have to agree to accept contributions of no more than $1,000 (the current limit for contributions from individuals is $2,800). Also, the act would let national parties make up to $100 million in expenditures toward publicly financed candidates.
Lawmakers are also bringing a bill to help the Federal Election Commission better enforce campaign finance rules. Part of how they plan on doing so is by eliminating the number of appointed commissioners to five, which lawmakers say could eliminate deadlock decisions.
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“With the ever-growing influence of big money in politics, it’s time for Congress to reform America’s outdated campaign finance system. I’m proud to reintroduce these bicameral bills that will help ensure candidates put the interests of voters above special interests, while strengthening accountability for those who violate campaign law,” Senator Luján said in a press release.
