Should Iowa political campaigns be publicly funded?
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The proliferation of corporate and private money in elections is prompting Senate Democrats to take another run at establishing a voluntary system to finance Iowa campaigns with public dollars.
A Senate subcommittee began work Tuesday on a voluntary campaign finance system modeled after Maine’s approach that would allow candidates to receive public funds if they agree not to accept private contributions – a move backers hope will slow the “tidal wave” of private money flowing into election races at all levels.
“In Iowa, from dog catcher to president, it has been astonishing to see the amount of money that has been available for even down-ballot races,” said Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Waterloo, a member of a Senate subcommittee that discussed Senate Study Bill 1072 – dubbed the Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections or VOICE Act – but took no action.
Iowa currently is one of 13 states with no political contribution limits, and the state has no public financing component for its elections.
Do you think Iowa political campaigns should be publicly funded?
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The amount of money in politics and how it influences the decisions made in congress, both state and federal, is a big problem without an easy solution.
This proposal would not stop Super-Pacs from launching independent campaigns in support or in opposition to a candidate. In the end it would do little to stop the corruptive influence of money in politics.
There are two fundamental concepts that are at the heart of the problem. One is that money is speech and spending money is to be protected as “free speech”. The second is the concept that a corporation is a person and entitled to the rights of privileges individuals (including free speech).
Both of these concepts need to be challenged and revised before we can really get a grasp on how to limit the influence of money in politics. These two concepts are used by the wealthy to have a disproportionate influence on government policy.
Our country was built on the concept of one man, one vote. That concept is underminded by the influence of money in politics.
It all depends on who you want the government to work for. If you want the government to work for and protect the people then the people should finance the elections but if you want corporations to run the government then let them finance the elections. Support the Constitutional Amendment that returns free speech to people only and get corporations out of elections.
Yes, campaigns should be publicly funded. Hopefully it will end the special interest groups from buying influence whether they be corporations or unions. We are basically funding the vote buying now.