For Immediate Release:
March 13, 2018
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.724.8105 - mnocella@dccouncil.us
Grosso's Fair Elections Act becomes law
Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement from Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large) on the signing into law of the Fair Elections Act of 2017, the third version of a public campaign finance bill he has introduced since 2013:
"I want to thank Mayor Bowser for signing into law the Fair Elections Act of 2017, which the Council unanimously passed last month. Further, I applaud her commitment to fund the legislation in her fiscal year 2019 budget proposal.
"Fair Elections establishes a strong public campaign finance system for our local elections, amplifies the voices of everyday D.C. residents, and combats the corrupting influence of outsized campaign spending. This public financing system incentivizes candidates to spend more time meeting with residents and constituents, empowers residents of ordinary means to have a meaningful ability to compete for elected office, reshapes our donor class to be more inclusive and representative of the entire population of the District of Columbia, and combats the perception of pay-to-play politics.
"I would also like to thank Councilmember Charles Allen and his staff, who worked tirelessly to shepherd this legislation through the Council and Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, who has been an original co-introducer of this legislation with me since 2013. I would also like to thank the Fair Elections Coalition, which organized events throughout D.C. to mobilize people to support public financing of campaigns, including at the mayor's budget engagement forums in recent weeks. Their commitment to ending the perception of pay-to-play politics and restoring faith in our local democracy is truly admirable and what got this effort across the finish line."
###