Publicly funded political campaigns or more power to big $$ donor/donor groups?

[havocmom]

In a time when fat-cat-corporate-control over elected officials is all too evident, look out for GOP pols wanting to save public money in the down economy (that was enabled by corporate controlled pols) by scrapping public financial support for campaigns!

Yeah, making sure only status quo supporting pols have the means to be heard will make things all better by saving some money? In a pig's eye!

Check out AZ Republican gubernatorial candidate John Munger's suggestion that public funding of campaigns should be scrapped:

http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/317721.php

With a yawning $2 billion hole in this year's state budget, and with no relief in sight for next year, Republican gubernatorial candidate John Munger has called for a moratorium on state-funded political campaigns.

"I think it's inappropriate for elected officials to be running state-funded campaigns with taxpayer money in these very difficult times," said Munger, a Tucson attorney. "It's a question of leadership and the recognition that everybody needs to sacrifice in these difficult times."
The Citizen's Clean Elections Act, passed by voters in 1998, requires participants to collect a certain threshold of $5 contributions, depending on the race, and then entitles them to some amount of public financing.

...

If the program went away, so would the revenue stream. It is not funded out of general fund revenues. It is funded predominantly from surcharges on civil penalties and criminal fines, although taxpayers can get a dollar-for-dollar tax break if they donate.

Because it was passed by the voters, the Legislature can't swoop in and take the funds.
...

So, the way out of economic woes, according the this GOP pol, is to abolish a means of public funding campaigns which is pretty much budget neutral and gives a bit of a tax break to tax payers, and increases the likelihood of differing voices in the political discussion? Oh my! Such interesting logic. Look for this to appear in your area if this guy does not get laughed down for his blatant shilling for more power for fat cats to elect puppets.

[Craftsman]

1. How about you can only give money if you are a registered voter who can vote in that election

Best of both worlds, no public or corporate money.

[havocmom]

2. Oh, I like that the AZ program lets out-of-staters pay, if they lose court cases...

From the linked article: "It is funded predominantly from surcharges on civil penalties and criminal fines, although taxpayers can get a dollar-for-dollar tax break if they donate."

Seems a good way to fund cleaner politics might be to prosecute more corporate criminals ;)

I do like your suggestion of limiting actual donors to voters in the state. I seem to recall that AZ taxpayers can check-off to make donations for public funding of campaigns on their tax forms, but it has been a while since I filed there. Might have changed. Any AZ DUers know if that is still the case?