CleanUpWashington.org

Who is Killing the Presidential Public Funding System?

By Daniel De Bonis

02/09/2007 at 12:35 PM ET

Suspect #1: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) - He recently called for the abolishment of the presidential public funding system. His defense is that presidential candidates are choosing not to opt-in and that the public doesn't want to pay for it. McConnell says fewer people are checking a box on the federal tax forms to give $3 to program. Is it true that the public doesn't want to pay for this? A poll from last summer showed that 74% percent of the public supports publicly funded elections. They believe the cost of running for office is out of control and would rather it be paid for by the public than by special interests. Also, many states and municipalities have passed public funding or “Clean Elections.”

Suspect #2: The Presidential Candidates - Current candidates have all decided to fund their campaigns from private sources. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) is asking her biggest supporters to fork over $1,000,000. At this rate, the 2008 presidential candidates could be expected to raise more than $500,000,000. With these exorbitant entrance fees for the presidential elections, it is no wonder the public funding system can’t keep up. No one in 1974 ever expected this kind of largess.

On a side note - it is worth mentioning that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has pledged that if he makes it to the general election, he will give back all his privately raised money and use the public system, if (and this is a BIG "if") his opponent does the same. His attempt to rescue the system is honorable, but it may end up a day late and a dollar short.

Suspect #3: The 109th Congress - The presidential public financing system has been in trouble for some time with both Bush and Kerry opting out in their primaries in 2004. Congress should have passed the bills by Reps. Shays and Meehan and by Sen. Feingold and McCain when it had the chance to update the presidential public funding system to make it a viable option for the 2008 slate of candidates. Luckily, bill was re-introduced last month and the 110th Congress can correct a past mistake.

What's the verdict? It may be too late for 2008, but the system can and must be salvaged.

Permalink

There are 4 comments for this blog entry.

Posted by casseysmith on 08/30/2008 at 4:42 AM ET

Presidential Public funding systems are killed by the politicians. Now a days politicians using the public people money.
====================================
casseysmith
Washington Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Posted by Franrose O on 12/19/2008 at 1:18 AM ET

Thanks for the post! You would probably think that drunken politicians, on the job, willing to miss their next payday, would only be found in movies and fictional books. Looks like Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich may have proven us wrong. Although he may have seen his last payday in office, he isn’t the only politician accused of being under the influence while on the clock. The Australian parliament is considering measures that would make current members and future members take a breathalyzer test while in session so that they don’t drink and legislate. A member of one of the leading parties in Australia’s parliament had to resign his post after he allegedly roughed up a female colleague after a Christmas party where he had become intoxicated. Other officials in Australia have also been ousted out of their public offices for drinking related offenses. The public seems to be open-minded about the idea. For instance, public transportation operators think that those who create the laws that govern should do so soberly, in the same way as the way they operate trains and buses soberly for public safety. Politicians worldwide have enjoyed a few rounds from time to time and most of them responsibly. Even still, this should be handled with extreme care. When it comes to your finances, you should handle these just as soberly. If your budget goes temporarily dry, you can soberly obtain fast payday loans with no problem. Click here to read the full article yourself on the payday loan money blog at personalmoneystore.com.

Posted by charmever on 09/08/2010 at 9:48 PM ET

sexy lingerie, wholesale lingerie,Sexy Costumes, sexy adult costumes,wholesale China babydolls,Christmas Lingerie

http://www.sexy-yuans.com/

Posted by jared on 04/12/2012 at 9:31 PM ET

That's Blog shows off your thinking really clever you are? I am very impressed with your post. Nice keep it up..
welding certification | bohemian dresses

In Depth...

Blog Menu

Media

Blogs

Resources

Archives

Post a comment










	Search Action Center Press Room Become a Watchdog Activist Spotlight Watchdog Blog Link to Us In Depth... Fair Elections Campaign Finance Reform Presidential Public Financing Lobbying Reform Executive Branch Ethics Key Reports Archives		Blog Menu Print Friendly Email Us Log in Register Subscribe to the Headlines Statement of Policies Media Altercation First Read New York Times Poynter's Romensko Raw Story Roll Call Slate.com The Hill The Note Times Dispatch AP Roundup Washington Monthly Washington Post Blogs Atrios Daily Kos David Sirota Fired Up! America Talking Points Memo Tapped Think Progress Resources Center for Public Integrity GAO House Ethics Committee Political Money Line Senate Ethics Thomas: US Congress Archives March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 Who is Killing the Presidential Public Funding System? By Daniel De Bonis 02/09/2007 at 12:35 PM ET Suspect #1: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) - He recently called for the abolishment of the presidential public funding system. His defense is that presidential candidates are choosing not to opt-in and that the public doesn't want to pay for it. McConnell says fewer people are checking a box on the federal tax forms to give $3 to program. Is it true that the public doesn't want to pay for this? A poll from last summer showed that 74% percent of the public supports publicly funded elections. They believe the cost of running for office is out of control and would rather it be paid for by the public than by special interests. Also, many states and municipalities have passed public funding or “Clean Elections.” Suspect #2: The Presidential Candidates - Current candidates have all decided to fund their campaigns from private sources. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) is asking her biggest supporters to fork over $1,000,000. At this rate, the 2008 presidential candidates could be expected to raise more than $500,000,000. With these exorbitant entrance fees for the presidential elections, it is no wonder the public funding system can’t keep up. No one in 1974 ever expected this kind of largess. On a side note - it is worth mentioning that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has pledged that if he makes it to the general election, he will give back all his privately raised money and use the public system, if (and this is a BIG "if") his opponent does the same. His attempt to rescue the system is honorable, but it may end up a day late and a dollar short. Suspect #3: The 109th Congress - The presidential public financing system has been in trouble for some time with both Bush and Kerry opting out in their primaries in 2004. Congress should have passed the bills by Reps. Shays and Meehan and by Sen. Feingold and McCain when it had the chance to update the presidential public funding system to make it a viable option for the 2008 slate of candidates. Luckily, bill was re-introduced last month and the 110th Congress can correct a past mistake. What's the verdict? It may be too late for 2008, but the system can and must be salvaged. Permalink There are 4 comments for this blog entry. Posted by casseysmith on 08/30/2008 at 4:42 AM ET Presidential Public funding systems are killed by the politicians. Now a days politicians using the public people money. ==================================== casseysmith Washington Alcohol Addiction Treatment Posted by Franrose O on 12/19/2008 at 1:18 AM ET Thanks for the post! You would probably think that drunken politicians, on the job, willing to miss their next payday, would only be found in movies and fictional books. Looks like Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich may have proven us wrong. Although he may have seen his last payday in office, he isn’t the only politician accused of being under the influence while on the clock. The Australian parliament is considering measures that would make current members and future members take a breathalyzer test while in session so that they don’t drink and legislate. A member of one of the leading parties in Australia’s parliament had to resign his post after he allegedly roughed up a female colleague after a Christmas party where he had become intoxicated. Other officials in Australia have also been ousted out of their public offices for drinking related offenses. The public seems to be open-minded about the idea. For instance, public transportation operators think that those who create the laws that govern should do so soberly, in the same way as the way they operate trains and buses soberly for public safety. Politicians worldwide have enjoyed a few rounds from time to time and most of them responsibly. Even still, this should be handled with extreme care. When it comes to your finances, you should handle these just as soberly. If your budget goes temporarily dry, you can soberly obtain fast payday loans with no problem. Click here to read the full article yourself on the payday loan money blog at personalmoneystore.com. Posted by charmever on 09/08/2010 at 9:48 PM ET sexy lingerie, wholesale lingerie,Sexy Costumes, sexy adult costumes,wholesale China babydolls,Christmas Lingerie http://www.sexy-yuans.com/ Posted by jared on 04/12/2012 at 9:31 PM ET That's Blog shows off your thinking really clever you are? I am very impressed with your post. Nice keep it up.. welding certification \| bohemian dresses Post a comment You are not logged in. In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you don't have a blog account yet, create one. Otherwise, log in to comment.

	About Us \| Privacy Policy \| Contact Us \| ©2013 Public Citizen