Do we have models of reform that actually work?

Yes! We have many working examples of effective legislation that limits the influence of private money on elections.  Did you know that cities including New York, Tucson, and San Francisco, provide local candidates with the option of partial public financing in order to lessen their dependence on wealthy campaign donors? More…  And that states including Maine, Arizona, New Jersey, Vermont, North Carolina, and Connecticut, have implemented a “Clean Money” option. Clean Money allows candidates to fully reject the stranglehold of private funders on policy formation and legislation.  In addition, many states have provisions for some public financing for candidates or parties. And at the federal level the Fair Elections Now Act when passed will allow Congressional candidates to run for office with small donations and public grants, thus ending their dependence on big donors. These and other reforms are the result of groups of citizens working together to deepen democracy. Read about Arizona’s Clean Money System.