is the lead author of the bill for public financing of congressional races. 1, traveled to states and cities that have implemented public financing systems and said he found bipartisan support. It has attracted outsize scrutiny from Republicans, who are attacking it as “taxpayer funding” for campaigns — more specifically, Democratic campaigns. And some experts question whether public financing is necessary after an election cycle that saw small, grass-roots donors power numerous successful congressional campaigns. There has been federal public financing of presidential elections since 1976, funded by a voluntary checkoff on income tax returns.

Source: Washington Post March 08, 2019 00:45 UTC