Obama opts out of public financing
It's probably reasonable to expect some pushback on this from the goo-goos, but one thing is clear: Obama, with his 1.5 million donors and counting, an average donation of less than a hundred dollars, and a policy to not accept money from PACs or Washington lobbyists, is well-positioned to develop an alternative to public financing as it's commonly been understood: grassroots financing.
Of course, you could help, too.
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2008 Elections | Barack Obama
A solution
This is why we need the Clean Money, Clean Elections (CMCE) system of full public funding of elections. If you think Obama is unique, wait until next year -- at least a dozen candidates for office right here in NYC will decline matching funds because they'll be able to raise far more money on their own. $80 million to run for mayor? Unless we enact CMCE, and very soon, $80 million will be the norm.
There is a CMCE bill stuck in the City Council's "legislative drafting unit," where it will remain until Christine Quinn lets it out. She doesn't want to, because she thinks the system we have here is good.
Meanwhile, in Albany, a bill similar to the system we have in NYC has passed the Assembly (A11507) -- in other words, they're pushing for the same cracked, worthless system we have here. Fortunately, Joe Bruno doesn't want any kind of campaign finance reform, so it will die in the senate. (I can't believe I'm happy about something Joe Bruno is doing! Or, rather, not doing.)
Finally, in Congress, there are bills in both houses dealing with congressional races (each house has a bill covering its own races). In the House, it is H.R.1646, sponsored by John Tierney (D-MA), with 55 cosponsors, including 10 New Yorkers (Hinchey, Lowey, Maloney, McCarthy, McNulty, Nadler, Serrano, Slaughter, Velazquez, Weiner). In the Senate, it's S.1285, sponsored by Dick Durbin (D-IL), with nine cosponsors, including Obama but not including McCain or either NY Senator.
There is, as yet, no bill to deal with presidential elections. The problem is that with the complicated primary/caucus system such a bill will be an enormous bear to write. Once the parties get their act together at both state and national levels, then something could be written.
Meanwhile, we can work our way up, starting right here in NYC. Feel free to call Christine Quinn's office (212-788-7210) to urge her to let the "New York City clean elections act," submitted by Tony Avella, come out of the legislative drafting unit (and don't let whoever you talk to get away with pretending the Speaker doesn't control that).