As noted earlier, on July 30, bills were introduced in each house of Congress to change the presidential primary season public funding laws.  However, neither bill has gained any co-sponsors since it was introduced.  The bills are HR6061 and S3681.  The original sponsors in the House are David Price of North Carolina, Michael Castle of Delaware, Todd Platts of Pennsylvania, and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.  The original sponsor in the Senate is Russell Feingold of Wisconsin.

Both bills make it far more difficult for a presidential candidate to qualify for primary season matching funds.  Current law requires that a presidential candidate raise at least $5,000 in small donations from each of 20 states.  Any person running for president is eligible, if that person claims to be seeking the nomination of any party.  It doesn’t matter how small or new that party is.  Minor party presidential candidates who have qualified for primary season matching funds include Sonia Johnson of the Citizens Party in 1984; John Hagelin of the Natural Law Party in 1992, 1996, and 2000; Lenora Fulani in 1988 and 1992; and Ralph Nader in 2000, 2004, and 2008.

The bills raise the threshold to $25,000 from each of 20 states.

Meanwhile, the bill in the House for public funding for Congressional candidates continues to gain co-sponsors.  That bill, HR1826, has 160 co-sponsors.  It gained three in July and one so far in August.