by Dean Hartwell
If you want to run
for federal office, you typically have some obstacles to
overcome. You must give much of your time to raise
money and to make a name for yourself.
Even if you succeed in doing that, it may not be
enough. In the most recent election, all fifty
incumbents running for re-election to Congress in
California easily defeated their challengers.
Challengers have
always fared poorly, but that might change thanks to a
recent decision by the Federal Election Commission
(FEC). The FEC, which enforces the financing of
federal elections, voted to allow candidates to pay
themselves from donations to their campaign.
What is the significance of this ruling?
More people will be able to afford to run for office.
The FEC now allows candidates to take their current
salary or the amount of money the officeholder of the
position they are running for, whichever is less.
Members of the House and Senate make $150,000 per year
and the President of the United States makes $400,000
per year.
This ruling will help challengers by putting them on a
more level playing field with incumbents in terms of
having time to raise money. Indeed, many
challengers who lost in the recent elections say they
would have run a better campaign if they could have quit
or taken a leave of absence from their day jobs.
Indeed, it will give future candidates precious time to make calls, go to
events and meet with supporters, all of which can
generate contributions.
This FEC decision accomplishes something crucial to
achieving democracy in the United States: It brings
elected office closer to the average person.