Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

Congressional Campaign Finance Reform

Adopted by the CCAR at the 98th Annual Convention of
the Central Conference of American Rabbis
1987

WHEREAS in 1974 the United States Congress passed legislation effectively regulating and limiting presidential campaign contributions by individuals and Political Action Committees and established a system of partial public financing for such campaigns, and

WHEREAS Congress did not include itself in this reform process, resulting in contributions to candidates for Congress by more than 4,500 PACS of over 100 million dollars in the 1986 congressional elections, and

WHEREAS our system can foster dependency on PAC money, and favors those candidates who spend the most money on campaigns,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Central Conference of American Rabbis urge the passage of legislation which would:

1. Limit the aggregate amount of contributions any candidate may accept from PACs, in-kind contributions from other special interest groups, and cash donations;

2. provide partial public financing of congressional elections, patterned after similar provisions for presidential elections;

3. Limit total campaign expenditures by any candidate;

4. establish free media response time and space for candidates who are targets of negative political advertising.