Public funding and free airtime

[Jan Beran <gberan@iastate.edu>]

While the free airtime for political advertising has real appeal I believe that it will be very difficult to implement.  It will no doubt take an act of Congress to do that, however, the media is given its licensing for use of airspace from a Federal agency, the FCC, so it could be done.  I remember when two of us from the League of Women Voters met with Michael Gartner, then recently 'retired' President of NBC he was adamant that requiring the media to provide free air time would not work. He was reflecting the views of many in the media business.  

Public funding is working in Maine.  Candidates there used it willingly.  It seems to me that the results in that state could be multiplied with enough public 'outcry' in other states.  Like the effort in securing women's suffrage which was not accomplished on the federal level but grassroots efforts at the states' level perhaps that is the way that campaign finance will have to be achieved. If the current McCain-Feingold legislation is not passed after so many years of work should the new emphasis be placed on a state by state effort?

Regarding restrictions.  Definitely, yes!  Campaign financing has increased exponetially in my state as well as the nation.  Increasingly, we have seen the influence of the monied on legislation.  We have to have limits. Ability to raising funds may not and should not any connection with how capable an individual is in representing constituents and lawmaking.

I would be in favor of completely limiting corporate contributions and political party gifts.  Let's go back to the one person, one vote idea.