The House of Representatives passed H.R. 1 on Friday, March 8 – one day after the Congressional Budget Office issued it’s report on the costs of implementing the bill. Although the bill is unlikely to gain any traction in the Senate, the projections offer the first glimpse at what a government-funded campaign cycle could look like.
H.R. 1 would begin raising revenue from fees in 2020 and funding a pilot program that reimbursed states to offer residents $25 to contribute to a House of Representatives race. Revenues would also be stockpiled to fund a Freedom From Influence Fund, which would begin making matching funds to qualified candidates in the 2026 House Election Cycle. Despite six years of buildups, the CBO estimates that the fund would be nearly depleted after the 2028 presidential election cycle.