http://www.inthesetimes.com/archives/tags/campaign+finance/ In These Times features award-winning investigative reporting about corporate malfeasance and government wrongdoing, insightful analysis of national and international affairs, and sharp cultural criticism about events and ideas that matter. en-us Expression Engine jessica@inthesetimes.com seamus@inthesetimes.com Wed, 25 Apr 2007 05:00:00 -0500 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3138/power_to_the_public_financing/ In the aftermath of Jack Abramoff, a new clamor for clean money and clean elections can be heard nationwide. Finally, some legislators are offering more than cosmetic solutions. In March, Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) introduced the Fair Elections Now Act. Modeled after existing election-financing systems in states like Arizona and Maine, the legislation outlines a new system for financing congressional campaigns with public funds. With a proposed $2.8 billion for each two-year election cycle, Durbin's bill aims to reward candidates who spend time with their constituents, and not golfing or dining with deep-pocketed lobbyists. In the House, Reps. John Tierney (D-Mass.) and Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) introduced a similar measure, the Clean Money Clean Elections Act (H.R.… campaign finance elections Susan J. Douglas Mon, 02 Jul 2007 05:00:00 -0500 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3235/kissing_up_to_k_street/ In 1903, journalist William Riordan published a series of interviews with George Washington Plunkitt, who was probably the most famous leader of New York's Tammany Hall (other than Boss Tweed himself). During a discussion of Lincoln Steffens' then-new book The Shame of the Cities, Plunkitt told Riordan that Steffens "can't see no difference between honest graft and dishonest graft and consequent, he gets things all mixed up." The same thing could be said for our Congress. "Honest graft," said Plunkitt, is when "the politician looks after his own interests, the organization's interests and the people's interests all at the same time." Dishonest graft, by contrast, is engaged in by "looters" who "go in for themselves alone without considering their organization… campaign finance congress Susan J. Douglas