I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 158 
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide for expendi-
ture limitations and public financing for House of Representatives general 
elections, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 6, 2009 
Mr. OBEY (for himself, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. 
ISRAEL, Mr. STARK, and Ms. SLAUGHTER) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in 
addition to the Committees on Ways and Means and Rules, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to 
provide for expenditure limitations and public financing 
for House of Representatives general elections, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDING. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Let the People Decide Clean Campaign Act’’. 
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(b) FINDING.—The Congress finds that the existing 
system of private political contributions has become a fun-
damental threat to the integrity of the national election 
process, has undermined public confidence in the legit-
imacy of that election process, and that the provisions con-
tained in this Act are necessary to prevent the corruption 
of the public’s faith in the Nation’s system of governance. 
TITLE I—EXPENDITURE LIMITA-
TIONS AND PUBLIC FINANC-
ING 
FOR 
HOUSE 
OF 
REP-
RESENTATIVES 
GENERAL 
ELECTIONS 
SEC. 101. EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS AND PUBLIC FI-
NANCING OF HOUSE GENERAL ELECTIONS. 
(a) EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS
AND PUBLIC FI-
NANCING.—The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 
(2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new title: 
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‘‘TITLE V—EXPENDITURE LIMI-
TATIONS 
AND 
PUBLIC 
FI-
NANCING 
FOR 
HOUSE 
OF 
REPRESENTATIVES GENERAL 
ELECTIONS 
‘‘SEC. 501. LIMITATION ON EXPENDITURES IN HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES GENERAL ELECTIONS. 
‘‘A candidate in a House of Representatives general 
election may not make expenditures other than as pro-
vided in this title. 
‘‘SEC. 502. SOURCES OF AMOUNTS FOR EXPENDITURES BY 
CANDIDATES IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
TIVES GENERAL ELECTIONS. 
‘‘The only sources of amounts for expenditures by 
candidates in House of Representatives general elections 
shall be— 
‘‘(1) the Grassroots Good Citizenship Fund 
under section 506; and 
‘‘(2) additional amounts from State and na-
tional party committees under section 507. 
‘‘SEC. 503. DISTRICT LIMITATION ON EXPENDITURES BY 
MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sections 
505 and 507, the maximum amounts of expenditures by 
major party candidates in House of Representatives gen-
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eral elections shall be based on the median household in-
come of the districts involved, as provided for in sub-
sections (b) and (c). 
‘‘(b) MAXIMUM FOR WEALTHIEST DISTRICT.—In the 
congressional district with the highest median household 
income, maximum combined expenditures for all major 
party candidates with respect to a House of Representa-
tives general election shall be a total of $2,000,000. 
‘‘(c) MAXIMUM
FOR OTHER DISTRICTS.—In each 
congressional district, other than the district referred to 
in subsection (b), the maximum combined expenditures for 
all major party candidates with respect to a House of Rep-
resentatives general election shall be an amount equal to— 
‘‘(1) the maximum amount referred to in sub-
section (b), less 
‘‘(2) the amount equal to— 
‘‘(A) 2⁄3 of the percentage difference be-
tween the median household income of the dis-
trict involved and the median household income 
of the district referred to in subsection (b), 
times 
‘‘(B) the maximum amount referred to in 
subsection (b). 
‘‘(d) ALLOCATION.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The maximum expenditure 
for a major party candidate in a congressional dis-
trict shall bear the same ratio to the maximum 
amount under subsection (b) or (c), as applicable, as 
the total popular vote in the same precincts in which 
the general election will be held for candidates of the 
party in all House of Representatives general elec-
tions occurring during the period described in para-
graph (3) bears to the total popular vote in such 
precincts for candidates of all major parties in all 
such elections, except that in determining the total 
popular vote in such precincts for candidates of any 
party in elections occurring during the period de-
scribed in paragraph (3), votes cast in any House of 
Representatives general election for which there were 
fewer than 2 major party candidates shall not be 
taken into account. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION FOR DISTRICTS WITH NO CON-
TESTED
ELECTIONS.—If, during the period de-
scribed in paragraph (3), no House of Representa-
tives general election for which there were at least 
2 major party candidates was held in any of the 
same precincts in which the general election will be 
held, the maximum expenditure for a major party 
candidate in the district shall bear the same ratio to 
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the maximum amount under subsection (b) or (c), as 
applicable, as the total popular vote in all such pre-
cincts for candidates of the party in all elections for 
the office of Senator occurring during the period de-
scribed in paragraph (3) bears to the total popular 
vote in all such precincts for candidates of all major 
parties in all such elections. 
‘‘(3) PERIOD DESCRIBED.—With respect to a 
House of Representatives general election in a con-
gressional district, the period described in this para-
graph is the period beginning on the date of the 
third most recent House of Representatives general 
election held in the district and ending on the day 
before the date of the election. 
‘‘SEC. 504. DISTRICT LIMITATION ON EXPENDITURES BY 
THIRD 
PARTY 
AND 
INDEPENDENT 
CAN-
DIDATES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sections 
505 and 507, the maximum amounts of expenditures by 
third party and independent candidates in House of Rep-
resentatives general elections shall be the amount allo-
cated under subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) ALLOCATION.—The maximum expenditure for a 
third party or independent candidate in a congressional 
district shall be the greater of the following amounts: 
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‘‘(1) The amount that bears the same ratio to 
the maximum amount under subsection (b) or (c) of 
section 503, as applicable, as the total popular vote 
in the district for candidates of the third party or 
for all independent candidates (as the case may be) 
in House of Representatives general elections bears 
to the total popular vote for all candidates in elec-
tions held during the period described in section 
503(d)(3). 
‘‘(2) The amount that bears the same ratio to 
the maximum amount under subsection (b) or (c) of 
section 503, as applicable, as the total popular vote 
in the State involved for candidates of the third 
party or for all independent candidates (as the case 
may be) in elections for Federal office other than 
Presidential elections bears to the total popular vote 
for all candidates in elections held during the period 
described in section 503(d)(3). 
‘‘(3) The amount that bears the same ratio to 
the maximum amount under subsection (b) or (c) of 
section 503, as applicable, as the total popular vote 
in the State involved for candidates of the third 
party or for all independent candidates (as the case 
may be) in Presidential elections bears to the total 
popular vote for all candidates in Presidential elec-
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tions held during the period described in section 
503(d)(3). 
‘‘SEC. 505. PERMITTING ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES BY 
CERTAIN ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES. 
‘‘(a) ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The maximum amount cal-
culated under section 503 or 504 for any eligible 
candidate described in paragraph (2) shall be in-
creased in accordance with subsection (b). 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE CANDIDATE DESCRIBED.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In this section, an ‘eli-
gible candidate’ is a major party, third party, 
or independent candidate in a House of Rep-
resentatives general election who presents to the 
Commission petitions containing the signatures 
of individuals eligible to vote in the election (as 
verified by the Commission), except that the 
highest funded candidate in the election may 
not be an eligible candidate for purposes of this 
section. 
‘‘(B) PROHIBITING USE OF PAID SIGNA-
TURE COLLECTORS.—The Commission may not 
verify a signature presented under this section 
if any person received a direct or indirect pay-
ment to collect the signature. 
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‘‘(3) 
HIGHEST
FUNDED
CANDIDATE
DE-
SCRIBED.—In this section, the ‘highest funded can-
didate’ is, with respect to an election, the major 
party, third party, or independent candidate who is 
permitted to make the greatest maximum amount of 
expenditures under this title, as calculated under ei-
ther section 503 or 504 (but excluding any increase 
in the amount under this section and any additional 
amount permitted under section 507). 
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION OF AMOUNT OF INCREASE IN 
MAXIMUM EXPENDITURE AMOUNT.— 
‘‘(1) DETERMINATION.—The increase in the 
maximum amount for an eligible candidate in a 
House of Representatives general election provided 
under this section shall be determined as follows: 
‘‘(A) If the number of signatures presented 
by the candidate to the Commission under sub-
section (a)(2) is equal to or greater than 20% 
of the total number of votes cast in the most 
recent comparable election in the same pre-
cincts in which the House of Representatives 
general election is held (as verified by the Com-
mission), the maximum amount for the can-
didate shall be increased by an amount equal to 
the difference between— 
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‘‘(i) the maximum amount of expendi-
tures which the highest funded candidate 
in the election is permitted to make under 
this title, as calculated under either section 
503 or 504 (but excluding any additional 
amount permitted under section 507); and 
‘‘(ii) the maximum amount of expend-
itures which the candidate is permitted to 
make under this title, as calculated under 
either section 503 or 504 (but excluding 
any increase in the amount under this sec-
tion and any additional amount permitted 
under section 507). 
‘‘(B) If, in the case of a third party or 
independent candidate, the number of signa-
tures presented by the candidate to the Com-
mission under subsection (a)(2) is equal to or 
greater than 10% of the total number of votes 
cast in the most recent comparable election in 
the same precincts in which the House of Rep-
resentatives general election is held (as verified 
by the Commission) and less than 20% of such 
total number of votes, the maximum amount for 
the candidate shall be increased by an amount 
equal to the difference between— 
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‘‘(i) 50 percent of the maximum 
amount of expenditures which the highest 
funded candidate in the election is per-
mitted to make under this title, as cal-
culated under either section 503 or 504 
(but excluding any additional amount per-
mitted under section 507); and 
‘‘(ii) the maximum amount of expend-
itures which the candidate is permitted to 
make under this title, as calculated under 
either section 503 or 504 (but excluding 
any increase in the amount under this sec-
tion and any additional amount permitted 
under section 507). 
‘‘(C) If the number of signatures presented 
by the candidate to the Commission under sub-
section (a)(2) is less than 10% (or, in the case 
of a major party candidate, less than 20%) of 
the total number of votes cast in the most re-
cent comparable election in the same precincts 
in which the House of Representatives general 
election is held (as verified by the Commission), 
there shall be no increase in the maximum 
amount provided under this section. 
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‘‘(2) MOST
RECENT
COMPARABLE
ELECTION 
DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘most recent 
comparable election’ means, with respect to a House 
of Representatives general election— 
‘‘(A) in the case of a regularly scheduled 
election held in a year in which a Presidential 
election is held, the most recent regularly sched-
uled election held in a year in which a Presi-
dential election was held; 
‘‘(B) in the case of a regularly scheduled 
election held in a year in which a Presidential 
election is not held, the most recent regularly 
scheduled election held in a year in which a 
Presidential election is not held; and 
‘‘(C) in the case of a special election, the 
most recent House of Representatives general 
election held in the same precincts in which the 
election is held which the Commission considers 
appropriate for purposes of this section. 
‘‘SEC. 506. GRASSROOTS GOOD CITIZENSHIP FUND. 
‘‘(a) CREATION OF FUND.—There is established in 
the Treasury a trust fund to be known as the ‘Grassroots 
Good Citizenship Fund’, consisting of such amounts as 
may be credited to such fund as provided in this section. 
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‘‘(b) DISTRICT ACCOUNTS.—There shall be estab-
lished within the Grassroots Good Citizenship Fund an ac-
count for each congressional district. The accounts so es-
tablished shall be administered by the Commission for the 
purpose of distributing amounts under this title. 
‘‘(c) PAYMENTS TO CANDIDATES.—Subject to sub-
section (d), the Commission shall pay to each candidate 
from the Grassroots Good Citizenship Fund the maximum 
amount calculated for such candidate under section 503 
or 504 and any additional amount calculated for the can-
didate under section 505. 
‘‘(d) INSUFFICIENT AMOUNTS.—If, as determined by 
the Commission, there are insufficient amounts in the 
Grassroots Good Citizenship Fund for payments under 
subsection (c), the Commission may reduce payments to 
candidates so that each candidate receives a pro rata por-
tion of the amounts that are available. 
‘‘(e) TRANSFERS TO FUND.—There are hereby cred-
ited to the Grassroots Good Citizenship Fund amounts 
equivalent to the amounts designated under section 6097 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 
‘‘(f) EXPENDITURES.—Amounts in the Grassroots 
Good Citizenship Fund shall be available for the purpose 
of providing amounts for expenditure by candidates in 
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House of Representatives general elections in accordance 
with this title. 
‘‘SEC. 507. ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS FROM STATE AND NA-
TIONAL PARTY COMMITTEES. 
‘‘(a) CONTRIBUTIONS.—In addition to amounts made 
available under section 503 or 504 and the additional 
amounts made available under section 505, in the case of 
a candidate in a House of Representatives general election 
who is the candidate of a political party, the State and 
national committees of that political party may make con-
tributions to the candidate totaling not more than 5 per-
cent of the maximum expenditure applicable to the can-
didate (as calculated under section 503 or section 504 and 
including any additional amount provided under section 
505). 
‘‘(b) EXPENDITURES.—A House of Representatives 
candidate who is the candidate of a political party may 
make expenditures of the amounts received under sub-
section (a). 
‘‘SEC. 508. PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on January 15, and 
continuing through April 15 of each year, the Commission 
shall carry out a program, utilizing broadcast announce-
ments and other appropriate means, to inform the public 
of the existence and purpose of the Grassroots Good Citi-
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zenship Fund and the role that individual citizens can play 
in the election process by voluntarily contributing to the 
fund. The announcements shall be broadcast during prime 
time viewing hours in 30-second advertising segments 
equivalent to 200 gross rating points per network per 
week. The Commission shall ensure that the maximum 
number of taxpayers shall be exposed to these announce-
ments. Television networks, as defined by the Federal 
Communications Commission, shall provide the broadcast 
time under this section as part of their obligations in the 
public interest under the Communications Act of 1934. 
The Federal Election Commission shall encourage broad-
cast outlets other than the above mentioned television net-
works including radio to provide similar announcements. 
‘‘(b) GROSS RATING POINT.—The term ‘gross rating 
point’ is a measure of the total gross weight delivered. It 
is the sum of the ratings for individual programs. Since 
a household rating period is 1 percent of the coverage 
base, 200 gross rating points means 2 messages a week 
per average household. 
‘‘SEC. 509. AGGREGATION OF CANDIDATES AND AUTHOR-
IZED COMMITTEES. 
‘‘For purposes of applying the restrictions and limita-
tions of this title— 
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‘‘(1) expenditures made by any authorized com-
mittee of a candidate shall be considered to be made 
by the candidate; and 
‘‘(2) contributions made to any authorized com-
mittee of a candidate shall be considered to be made 
to the candidate. 
‘‘SEC. 510. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘As used in this title— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘House of Representatives can-
didate’ means a candidate for the office of Rep-
resentative in, or Delegate or Resident Commis-
sioner to, the Congress; 
‘‘(2) the term ‘median household income’ 
means, with respect to a congressional district, the 
median household income of that district, as deter-
mined by the Commission, using the most current 
data from the Bureau of the Census; 
‘‘(3) the term ‘major party’ means, with respect 
to a House of Representatives general election— 
‘‘(A) a political party whose House of Rep-
resentatives candidate in the preceding general 
election received, as the candidate of such 
party, 25 percent or more of the total number 
of popular votes received by all candidates for 
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such office in the same precincts in which the 
general election will be held, or 
‘‘(B) a political party whose candidates in 
all elections for Federal office and all elections 
for the chief executive of the State involved oc-
curring during the period described in section 
503(d)(3) received 25 percent or more of the 
total number of popular votes received by all 
candidates in the same precincts in which the 
general election will be held in all such elections 
occurring during such period; 
‘‘(4) the term ‘third party’ means, with respect 
to a House of Representatives general election, a po-
litical party which is not a major party; 
‘‘(5) the term ‘independent candidate’ means, 
with respect to a House of Representatives general 
election, a House of Representatives candidate who 
is not the candidate of a major party or a third 
party, except that any such candidate who, in the 
preceding general election, received 25 percent or 
greater of the total number of popular votes received 
by all candidates for such office in the same pre-
cincts in which the general election will be held, shall 
be treated for purposes of this title as a major party 
candidate; and 
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‘‘(6) the term ‘House of Representatives gen-
eral election’ means a general election for the office 
of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Com-
missioner to, the Congress.’’. 
(b) INDEXING OF AMOUNTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 315(c) of the Fed-
eral Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
441a(c)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(B)(i), by striking ‘‘or 
(h)’’ and inserting ‘‘or (h), or by title V,’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ‘‘and 
(h)’’ and inserting ‘‘and (h), and under title 
V,’’. 
(2) BASE YEAR.—Section 315(c)(2)(B) of such 
Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(c)(2)(B)) is amended— 
(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) in clause (ii), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
clause: 
‘‘(iii) for purposes of title V, calendar 
year 2012.’’. 
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