Influence Alley

Following a controversial proposal from Rep. Lynn Westmoreland to reduce the number of fundraisers he throws, the Progressive Policy Institute has come out with its own idea to slow the fundraising carousel -- a "fundraising quiet period." 

In a policy brief released today, PPI executive director Lindsay Mark Lewis calls for banning fundraising for House members until the second session of Congress and making senators wait until year five of their terms before raising money. He argues that it would relieve legislators from constantly thinking about their next elections and improve relationships on the Hill.

has bravely proposed a once-a-quarter fundraiser to lessen the burden of fundraising, both for him and for donors. But for many members, including especially vulnerable moderates who must raise substantially more money than their safer counterparts in order to keep their seats ... this kind of unilateral disarmament is tantamount to political suicide.