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The presidential campaign of Senator John McCain focused national media
attention on a phenomenon that is now a political fact of life—many Americans
are tired of the way election campaigns are financed. Independents, and voters
who are loosely affiliated with either major party, have become especially
cynical about the soft money, PAC money and special interest money that fuels
modern campaigns. These are the individuals who traditionally cast the swing
votes that decide contested elections. And they want a change. While gridlock in
Congress has stymied federal campaign finance reform, several states are trying
an innovative approach—comprehensive public financing of state election
campaigns. Over the past four years, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont
have passed initiatives or laws setting up public financing for candidates who
accept very limited private contributions and agree to limit campaign spending.
Arizona and Maine have special provisions to increase public funding to
candidates who are being outspent by their opponents, helping to level the
playing field between publicly-funded and privately-funded campaigns. A
decades-old idea, public financing was inspired by the Watergate scandal. Laws
from that era provide presidential candidates with public funding, and some type
of public financing provision exists in twenty-four states. But the Maine Clean
Election Act, adopted by referendum in 1996, signals a new grassroots momentum
for reform in the states. Public financing will likely be on the November 2000
ballot in both Missouri and Oregon—and both may win. Public financing is a
popular solution that is gaining momentum. In March, a national survey by the
Mellman Group found that 68% favor public financing if candidates agree to abide
by spending limits. Voters want campaign finance reform because they perceive
the influence of special interest money affecting crucial governmental
decisions. That perception leads to public cynicism, distrust of government,
alienation from the system, and low voter turnout. We must restore trust in the
democratic process. Public financing is one significant step we can and should
take. As John McCain boldly noted on the floor of the United States Senate,
"if special interests did not believe that their millions of dollars in
donations buy them special consideration in the legislative process, then [they]
wouldn’t give us that money, would they?" Americans understand and agree
with this observation. Elected leaders can lead on this. Or the voters will.
by Ann Beaudry, CEO, Center for Policy Alternatives
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