Check the tax box, fund the parties' parties

[Gunny]

By Drew Griffin and Scott Bronstein
CNN Special Investigations Unit

(CNN) -- When Democrats gather in Denver, Colorado, and Republicans in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, for their political conventions this summer, they'll be taking along with them a big gift from federal taxpayers.

The Federal Elections Commission has announced that each convention will receive $17 million in taxpayer funds, money approved by Congress as part of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund.

The fund was started in the 1970s as a way to get influential money out of politics, but critics say it has evolved into another pool of money political parties and candidates can tap into for the ever-increasing costs of national elections.

more ... Check the tax box, fund the parties' parties - CNN.com

 

[Denny Crane]

The fund was started in the 1970s as a way to get influential money out of politics

We know that is no longer the case. This is just a fund to pad the pockets of both parties. Considering the huge amount of cash they recieve during an election cycle I think it's time to do away with the fund myself.

 

[xsited1]

I would be more than happy to check the box if I knew my money wasn't going to the two big parties.

 

[user_name_guest]

Why hasn't there been a third party. Why do we allow the cartel in Washington to continue.

 

[editec]

Here in Maine the GREEN PARTY CANDIDATES get public funding.

Sadly, the people the Maine GREENS field are ignorant rich kids who don't have a freaking clue.

As much as I want to see more parties to choose from, I am not about to support scions whose only ability is to have enough seed money to buy enough signatories to qualify to get public campaign funding.