Rep. Boehner should focus on constituents—work to pass Fair Elections Now Act

Washington, D.C.—News reports highlighting Minority Leader John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) new “cash for speaker” program is a troubling—yet perfect—example of our broken political system, according to the Campaign for Fair Elections.

“That Rep. Boehner would so easily sell access and influence to lobbyists simply for political gain is an unconscionable abuse of the responsibilities his Ohio constituents have granted him,” said David Donnelly, campaign manager of the Campaign for Fair Elections. “Americans want leaders who will look out for them, not special interest donors.”

“Rep. Boehner is not the first congressional leader to promise access, attention and VIP treatment to big donors and bundlers,” continued Donnelly. “But if the House leadership advances the Fair Elections Now Act he could be among the last.”

Rep. Boehner has launched a new campaign to become Speaker of the House if Republicans retake the majority in November, according to the newspaper POLITICO. From the article: “According to materials distributed by Boehner’s camp and obtained by POLITICO, lobbyists and other major donors across the country who give the maximum or help raise $100,000 will get meetings with Boehner, calls from senior aides with updates on the campaign and ‘VIP access to all events, including roundtables, briefings, breakout discussions and interactive panel discussions.’”

The highest giving industries to Rep. Boehner’s campaign and political action committee during his time in Congress include Wall Street interests, energy companies, and lawyers and lobbyists. In the 2010 cycle alone, he has already raised nearly $7 million, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

The Fair Elections Now Act would allow candidates to run competitive campaigns for office on a blend of Fair Elections funds and a match on small dollar donations. With Fair Elections, the only interests our elected officials would be paying attention to are their constituents. The legislation has the broad, bipartisan and cross-caucus support of 157 U.S. House members and 23 U.S. Senators.

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The Campaign for Fair Elections is a national effort to push for congressional passage of Fair Elections and to educate the public about the impact of special interest money in politics. Learn more at www.fairelectionsnow.org.