Do you support voluntary public funding of all federal elections to reduce the influence big money has on our democracy? You'd be able to spend more time serving your country and less time dialing for campaign contributions.

Do you support voluntary public funding of all federal elections to reduce the influence big money has on our democracy? You'd be able to spend more time serving your country and less time dialing for campaign contributions.
Asked by: Matt Stempeck from Washington, DC

Asked of All U.S. Congress on Feb 21st, 2008

Categories: Campaign 2008 · Ethics · Money & Politics. Tags: 2008 · campaign finance · lobbyists · public funding.

Answer from: U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK)

First of all, I’m opposed to public funding of political campaigns – first and foremost because most of the public is as well. It’s not a very popular system. Second, it doesn’t remove money from campaigns; it just removes it from candidates. And you see it spent through all sorts of special interest groups and organizations with every point of view. So I would much prefer that my tax dollars go to fund government, and that I contribute to candidates I support as opposed to a portion of the money that I pay to the government being diverted to people I may or may not support.

Answered on Apr 18th, 2008