Instead of limiting the ability of big contributors to influence legislators, this would reimburse them for their efforts to corrupt the process. It subsidizes the people who are the problem. What's even worse is that they target the tax break to those who itemize deductions. That excludes the average taxpayer and guarantees that only the wealthiest taxpayers can benefit. Shea said the change to the income tax checkoff is another attempt by Assembly Republicans to eliminate the use of public funds for political campaigns.
Public financing is the foundation of any genuine reform.
Without public grants, there is no legal way to enforce spending limits. Without spending limits, there is no way to reduce the growing reliance on negative TV ads and no way to reduce special interest influence over elected officials. The Assembly action makes it all the more important for the Senate to take a strong stand in favor of campaign finance reform in its version of the budget bill, Shea said.