WASHINGTON -- In 1980, U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter spent $1.9 million to win his seat. In 2004, he spent nearly $22 million. In 2010, when the Republican runs for a sixth term, he'll likely have to raise an even larger sum.

"In the public mind, candidates for the United States Congress are on the auction block," Mr. Specter told the Senate Rules Committee, which held a hearing yesterday on a proposal to create a multibillion-dollar public financing program for congressional races.

Mr. Specter and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., are the main proponents of the program. They argue that spiraling campaign costs have forced lawmakers to spend too much time raising money and not enough time addressing the concerns of constituents.

Some of their colleagues expressed doubts about using public money for elections. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called it "welfare for politicians" and noted tepid public support for voluntary contributions to the presidential finance system.

In 2005, fewer than 10 percent of Americans checked the $3 contribution box on their federal income tax forms.

Mr. Durbin insisted that the current system is broken. "It forces us to spend so many hours with special-interest groups and generous, wealthy individuals," he said. "We really don't know what life is like for the average working person."

The financing system would be voluntary, providing about $2.8 billion nationwide for each two-year congressional cycle.

To qualify as participants, Senate candidates would have to raise $5 contributions from a specific number of supporters, depending on state population. Pennsylvania's qualification number is 11,000 donors. The state would receive $7.9 million in public funds for the primary election and $19.4 million for the general election.