Government and Politics

Opinion: Campaign Spending Not Outlandish

Campaign "reformers" would like to replace private contributions with public subsidies and impose strict spending limits. But campaign spending isn't out of control or outlandish, claims columnist Robert J. Samuelson in Newsweek.

  • In the 1996 election, campaign spending at all levels totaled $4 billion, according to Herbert Alexander of the Citizens' Research Foundation.

  • That was one-twentieth of one percent of the gross domestic product of $7.6 trillion.

  • By contrast, Americans spend about $20 billion a year just on laundry and dry cleaning.

Nor have contributions had undue effect on legislation, says Samuelson. For instance, the largest tax breaks -- such as for college tuition -- "stem mostly from politicians' desire to pander to masses of voters," rather than wealthy individual constituents.

He says the artificial limits on contributions in the post-Watergate 1974 campaign "reforms" created a baffling maze of election laws and rules that fuel the "immorality, illegality and cynicism" reformers deplore.

  • Congress limited the amount individuals could give a candidate for federal office to $1,000 per election and total giving to all candidates directly through parties or committees to $25,000.

  • This encouraged the establishment of political action committees (PACs) -- in 1974 there were 608 PACs, now there are nearly 4,000.

The latest reform effort -- McCain-Feingold -- would outlaw "soft money" contributions to parties for voter registration and TV ads, which currently have no limits. It would also ban "issue advocacy" ads in the 60 days before an election.

Rep. John Doolittle (R-Ca.) suggests repealing all contribution limits and have full, immediate disclosure. Says Samuelson, "The best defense against the undue influence of money is to let candidates raise it from as many sources as possible -- and let the public see who's giving."

Source: Robert J. Samuelson, "Making Pols into Crooks," Newsweek, October 6, 1997.

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