An experiment in public financing

[Orangepeel]

Congressman John Sarbanes has represented Maryland's 3rd district since 2007. 

In addition to being one of the co-sponsors of the Fair Elections Now Act to promote campaign finance reform, he has set up his own 2012 campaign to be a unique experiment in grassroots donations. The fair elections act proposes setting up an election fund that candidates will have access to once the have shown that they have grassroots support (defined as some number of less than $100 donors). In an effort to prove the viability of the model, Sarbanes asked traditional larger donors to his past campaigns to instead set up a "challenge fund." He pledged not to touch this money until he had received donations from 1000 small dollar donors.

Congressman Sarbanes is a great, progressive democrat. Please consider donating a small amount -- $5.00 -- to help him reach his 1000 donor goal.  I don't know whether or not his experiment will work or not, but i admire the fact the Sarbanes is trying to do something to change the way the current system works and is bringing much needed attention to the problems of big donors. Visit www.grassrootsdonor.com to become a grassroots donor.

Other Signature Issues
He is the author of the No Child Left Inside Act (NCLI), which would promote outdoor education, making children more aware of the environment and improving their health. A coalition of advocates has sprung up in support of this effort. It now numbers 1700 organizations across the country representing nearly 40 million people. 

Congressman Sarbanes developed a new public service loan forgiveness program that will allow students graduating with federal or federally consolidated loans who choose to go into public service the opportunity to earn loan forgiveness. Specifically, students who work in government or the non-profit sector for a cumulative total of ten years will have their monthly payments lowered during that time and have all outstanding balances at the end of the ten years completely forgiven.

https://grassrootsdonor.ngpvanhost.com/