For Immediate Release:
May 20, 2013
Washington, D.C. – Today, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie (D – Ward 5), chair of the Committee on Government Operations, announced a July 11 public roundtable on the feasibility of public financing of District of Columbia elections.
“Public financing is a very important issue and an option that needs to be on the table when we are considering any campaign finance reform,” said McDuffie. “A well-crafted public finance system can democratize elections, amplifying the voice of individual donors, and allow ordinary citizens an opportunity to fairly participate in the electoral process.”
Various jurisdictions around the country have enacted legislation converting their campaign financing systems to public or quasi-public financing models. Though Councilmember McDuffie, along with Councilmember David Grosso (I – At-large), co-introduced Bill 20-0120 the “Public Financing of Political Campaigns Amendment Act of 2013,” this roundtable, while discussing Bill 20-0120, will also more broadly explore the feasibility of creating a public financing system in the District. Witnesses will be encouraged to discuss best practices from other jurisdictions and proposed methods of financing publicly-funded elections.
Anyone wishing to testify at the hearing should contact Ronan Gulstone at (202) 724-8028, or via e-mail at rgulstone@dccouncil.us, and provide their name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business Tuesday, July 9th.
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