Cleveland Plain Dealer...
Rep. Dennis Kucinich wants Constitution to require that taxpayers fund all federal campaigns  
January 23, 2012 

Add amending the U.S. Constitution to the uphill battles undertaken by Cleveland Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich. 

Kucinich announced Thursday that he’s seeking a Constitutional Amendment that would require that all campaigns for U.S. President, Vice-President, House of Representatives, and Senate be paid for exclusively by taxpayers. His amendment also would block outside expenditures on behalf of any candidate. 

He said the measure is needed to counteract a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows outside groups to spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns. He says that decision has put American democracy “on the auction block.” 

“With corporate private financing, we have officials working for the interest of corporations,” said a statement from Kucinich. “With public financing, we have officals working for the public. And public financing will actually save taxpayers’ money, by elimniating any incentive of public officials to reward campaign contributors with taxpayer subsidies.” 

Presidential campaigns are already partially funded by the U.S. Treasury. More than $3 million in tax dollars funded Kucinich’s unsuccessful White House bids. 

To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must obtain two-thirds support in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, and be ratified by three quarters of all state legislatures. The Constitution also sets forth a procedure for amending the Consitution at a “Constitutional Convention,” but it has never been done. 

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