Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC)
Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) is one of his party’s few remaining advocates for serious campaign finance reform. Every year he co-authors a bill that would create a system of public financing for Congressional elections, which would allow lawmakers to run for office without having to court corporate special interests.
In a live chat with Blue America readers this afternoon, blogger Heather Parton (Digby) asked Jones about why he supports this overhaul. He replied by explaining how the leader of his party kicked him off of Ai??a committee for failing to raise enough money for the party:
I believe one the problems in Congress is that both parties are responsible for raising money for the next election. As I have said many times, I am part of the problem, but I work across party lines to be part of the solution. Recently, I was one of four Republicans taken off a committee, Financial Services, which deals with banking, insurance and securities. An aide to the Speaker of the House spoke to the press and acknowledged that one reason, among two reasons, is because I did not raise money for the party. Members in both parties will tell you that this is a problem in Washington. I am a cosponsor of legislation, that will probably not move forward, that will help resolve this problem.
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