Government and Politics Issues

Tax-Paid Presidential Campaigns Unpopular

Many political experts are uneasy with the practice of using taxpayers' money to subsidize political campaigns. Even the public appears to be losing faith in the idea.

  • The Internal Revenue Service reports fewer than one in seven taxpayers contribute part of their taxes to presidential candidates -- half the peak ratio set in 1978.

  • But by the 2000 campaign, federal funding for candidates in presidential primaries will have more than doubled from what was spent in 1984.

  • The government will spend at least $162 million to fund the two major parties' conventions and general election campaigns.

  • To that should be added the $91 million plus in matching funds for nearly all primary candidates.

The total then would be more than $250 million in public funds going to the campaigns.

"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors," Thomas Jefferson wrote, "is sinful and tyrannical."

Source: Editorial, "Presidential Candidates at the Trough," Investor's Business Daily, July 15, 1998.

Home | Support Us | All Issues | Social Security | Debate Central | Contact Us

Dallas Headquarters: 12770 Coit Rd., Suite 800 - Dallas, TX 75251-1339 - 972/386-6272 - Fax 972/386-0924
Washington Office: 601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 900 South Building - Washington, DC 20004 - 202/220-3082 - Fax 202/220-3096
© 2001 NCPA