From a Questionnaire:
I support public funding of political campaigns. To be effective, however, there would have to be some mechanism that would prohibit self-funding candidates from circumventing the system. Currently, suchmechanisms are unconstitutional under the Supreme Court decision in Buckley v. Valeo (1976) and the recent decision, Davis v. FEC (2008), striking down the millionaire’s amendment. I doubt that a constitutional amendment could be enacted on this subject. It is discouraging to have political contests determined by levels of financial support and not by positions on the issues. Many good people refuse to get involved in political life because of the constant need to raise campaign funds. Also, independent expenditures by 527 groups can distort the system.