U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer will hold a telephone town hall this week with constituents that will focus on how campaign finance reform is an important way to revitalize our democracy.
He is also expected to announce the introduction of a bill to fix problems with the Federal Election Commission.
The tele-town hall starts at 6:20 p.m. Thursday, June 11 and will feature special guest Trevor Potter, former Federal Election Commission Chairman.
Along with working as general counsel to the presidential campaign of John McCain, Potter was the lawyer who helped Stephen Colbert form his political action committee, Making a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow.
Kilmer (D-6th District) also plans to introduce legislation to fix problems facing the Federal Election Commission this week.
Kilmer’s bill comes on the heels of a recent New York Times story that detailed struggles at the FEC to find consensus and to take action against election violations. A recent New York Times/CBS News poll also found that 84 percent of respondents think that money has too much influence in the American political system.
Participants in the town hall Thursday will have the chance to ask Potter and Kilmer a question or leave a message with their questions or comments on campaign finance reform.
“I want folks to know that their voice matters in our political system,” Kilmer said.
“Campaign finance reform is one key way we can bring people-power back to Congress,” he said. “I hope folks are able to join the conversation with Trevor so we can talk about the best ways to revitalize our democracy and focus on citizens rather than special interests.”
In recent years, major Supreme Court decisions have led to increased spending on political campaigns. Kilmer noted that during the 2014 election cycle candidates, parties and outside groups raised and spent more than $3.5 billion. Also in 2014, the Supreme Court in McCutcheon vs. FEC struck down limits on overall campaign contributions individual donors can make to candidates, political parties, and political committees.
And in 2010, the Supreme Court ruled in its controversial Citizens United decision that corporations, labor and certain advocacy groups should not face limits on independent political expenditures.
Kilmer has worked on campaign finance reform since his election to Congress. The Close the Floodgates Act was originally introduced by Kilmer last December and would reverse the tenfold increase in the amount of money donors can contribute to political parties.
The Gig Harbor Democrat is also a sponsor of the Disclose Act, which would bring transparency to the election process by uncovering campaign-related spending by outside groups and corporations. He also sponsored an amendment to the Constitution to overturn Supreme Court decisions on campaign finance and clarify the role Congress plays in setting limits on campaign financing. Kilmer is also pushing for Congress to take up and pass the Government by the People Act to magnify the impact of small-dollar contributions.
Residents of the 6th District who would like to join the call can sign up at http://kilmer.house.gov/contact/townhall or send an email to kilmer.teletownhall@mail.house.gov with their name and phone number by 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 10.
