Do you designate $3 to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund?

[Renew Deal]

Here's the HR Block description:

"This money goes into a federal fund for qualifying presidential candidates. The fund's designed to reduce candidates' dependence on large contributions from individuals and groups and place candidates on an equal footing in the general election."

[uppityperson]

1. Didn't used to but have last 10 yrs

[msongs]

2. lol would like to see this money audited and see how they really spend it nt

[damntexdem]

3. No longer.

Did in the past.

[jillan]

4. I have in the past, then stopped for a few years but ever since Citizens United - Yes! I don't know

if it'll make a difference but it makes me feel a little hopeful.

[Iggo]

5. No.

[PBS Poll-435]

6. ALWAYS

Does not affect tax due or a refund amount.


I wish Congress would change it to $10.00.

[TheKentuckian]

7. Why not, is what I wonder. Are people against publicly funded elections or what?

Serious question, I don't see the downside but would like insight to what others see on this.

[former9thward]

8. Anyone who contributes to it is just funding the Republicans.

Obama did not use it in 2008 and McCain did. Obama is not going to use it 2012, who knows about the R candidate. So if you give them money it just goes to the R candidate if anyone.

[PBS Poll-435]

9. Sometimes Democrats also use matching funds (even in Primaries)

The further we get away from partially-disclosed donations and onto a public funding system the better.

[PavePusher]

11. I don't think elections should be publicly funded.

But I do think every cent that a campaign receives, no matter what the source, and how it is spent, needs to be publicly listed.

Let's get some transparancy into the system.

[roody]

18. Publically funded is the only way to get the

corporations and fatcats out.

[FreeState]

10. Have in the past but not anymore

It doesn't do enough when you have huge corporations in the game...

[Jumping John]

12. The figures for the Presidential Fund here:

We have prepared a chart that tracks the status of the Presidential Fund from its inception through the current time. It includes monthly deposits into the Fund reported by the Treasury Department, payments from the Fund certified by the FEC, and participation rates for taxpayers as reported by the IRS.

http://www.fec.gov/press/bkgnd/fund.shtml

The Chart:

http://www.fec.gov/press/bkgnd/pres_cf/PresidentialFundStatus_Jan2011.pdf

[bigwillq]

13. Never (nt)

[grillo7]

14. Yes, and I think we should have more options to earmark funds in this way

Wouldn't it be great to be able to allocate x amount of money to high speed rail projects, or the NIH, or EPA, etc? I think getting people engaged at this level would be a really good thing.

[piratefish08]

15. i would contribute $30 if there were campaign reform.

[trackfan]

16. Yes, but my wife doesn't, and we file jointly,

so I guess it's a wash.

[Renew Deal]

17. I'm surprised by the results of this poll.

I know that Obama and a couple republicans will not accept matching funds, but if you believe in publicly financed campaigns, you should be checking the box for this. I am split about whether the money will be used to bash Obama. Realistically that's not the case. It will be used by republicans to bash each other. Either way, DUers should support the presidential campaign fund on principle.

[roody]

19. If people knew more about how it works, I believe they would

support public funding.