WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Derek Kilmer (WA-6) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD) introduced the bipartisan Restoring Integrity to America’s Elections Act to reform the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) and enable it to more effectively carry out its mission to oversee and enforce campaign finance laws.
Due to the FEC’s even partisan split among its six commissioners, deadlock on key decisions has worsened, with unresolved cases rising from 4.2% in 2006 to nearly 40% in 2016, mostly affecting trivial matters. The Restoring Integrity to America’s Elections Act aims to resolve these deadlocks and enhance enforcement by reforming the FEC's leadership and streamlining its processes.
“In order for our democracy to function, voters must be able to have confidence in our electoral institutions,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “Our bipartisan legislation will require necessary reforms to the way the Federal Election Commission operates and ensure that it does not remain yet another example of partisan gridlock. I am proud to lead this transparency initiative alongside my bipartisan colleagues and to continue to lead the charge in Congress to restore Americans’ faith in their elections.”
“Congress initially set up the Federal Election Commission after Watergate to be the referee, tasked with blowing the whistle on politicians and groups that cheat and undermine the interests of ‘We the People’,” said Rep. Kilmer. “Unfortunately, in recent years, the FEC has become dysfunctional, jeopardizing enforcement of the rules. This bill is about getting the referee back on the field. Meaningful, substantial reforms at the Commission need to happen to get back to weeding out campaign finance abuse and holding those who break the rules accountable.”
“Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, but since the Supreme Court’s wrong and reckless 2010 Citizens United decision, our nation’s campaign finance laws have given big corporations and deep-pocketed special interests enormous power in politics with almost zero transparency,” said Sen. Van Hollen. “By strengthening the FEC’s ability to enforce our campaign finance laws, this legislation will help return more political power to the American people – where it belongs.”
The Restoring Integrity to America’s Elections Act proposes reducing FEC commissioners from six to five, including two from each major party and one independent, to prevent deadlock and align with the structure of most independent agencies. The Act also introduces a Blue-Ribbon Advisory Panel, led by the president, to suggest nominees for the Commission.
“The agency tasked with enforcing the nation’s campaign finance laws – the Federal Election Commission – has fallen into disarray and dysfunction ever since polarized party politics have taken root,” said Craig Holman, Ph.D., Public Citizen. “Divided evenly along party lines, the FEC usually deadlocks on major issues, leaving the campaign finance laws largely unenforced. Rep. Fitzpatrick’s ‘Restoring Integrity to America’s Elections Act’ would break the partisan gridlock by appointing a nonpartisan independent as one member of the Commission, casting the deciding vote whenever the partisan members deadlock. It is imperative to bring the FEC out of polarizing party politics because our campaign finance law is only as good as its fair and nonpartisan enforcement.”