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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 1995)
EDITORIAL Campaign costs hurt candidates Former vice president Dan Quayle is the latest victim of a growing phenomenon of American politics — the growing cost of presidential campaigns Quayle said he wanted to spend more time with his family, but a number of sources close to him have said he was having problems raising the funds necessary to make a run for the presidency. In this sense, Quayle isn't alone. Conducting a presi dential campaign these days is a spondv proposition, and a number of candidates have either dropped out of the race or don 't run altogether because of a lack of mon ey Some have said that to be viable to run for the presi dency in 1996. a candidate must raise $20 million by the end of 1995. To be honest, running for president these days requires a candidate to be able to beg for money. In the first months of a campaign, presidential races are more of a contest to see who can raise the most money in the time allotted rather than a discussion of political issues. This detracts from democracy by making the campaign loss dependent on ideas and policies while making it more reliant on funding, an unfortunate proposition for voters. Another problem is the frontloading of primaries for Republican presidential candidates. Within a six week period in the spring of 1996. decisions will most likely be made about who will ho the Republican nominee for president. This only highlights the need for early money for candidates. Although little tan be done by the average citizen to reduce the costs of primary campaigns. Americans can help to fund the general election. Tax time is upon the country again By checking off the box on a tax return for the Presidential Election Cam paign Fund, a person can dudicate S3 of his or her tax money to a fund that helps to equally fund candidates during the final and decisive months of a presidential campaign. Checking off the box does not add to the taxes paid by an individual or deduct anything from a possible refund. It simply sots aside $3 from the return to reduce depen dence of candidates on special interests for part of the election season — something that Just about everyone would agree is a positive and worthwhile idea. It is unfortunate that money is the deciding factor in elections today, as it narrows out otherwise legitimate candidates who just don’t have the financial resources to run and reduces choices for voters. However, the campaign fund check-off is a unique and productive way to combat this problem. It allows tax payers to get involved in politics and show that cam paigns need not bo funded totally front special interest dollars. It is truly a win-win situation for both voters and candidates. Oregon Daily Emerald po uc« ms tuc»t'4 outgo* *?«> IN> Orwgon 0a*> I m»aAJ a pvMahnd 0*ty Unu, ttvough f <day aor*g tna achoo. and Tuaaday and Thomday duongma »ummar by ifiaOagon (W, tmariad Put**tvr-ig Co . 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The mam battleground has been the House of Representa tives. for GQP senators, includ ing Majority Leader Bob Dole, R kan . are far less apt to support them than their more rabid counterparts in the lower cham ber However, even some of the established House Republicans, most notably House Majority Leader Dick Army, R-Texas, tried their best to hac k away from them after November's dec - imation of the Democratic Party. But. due to an overwhelming public: demand, they are going to have to deliver. Kvery state that has voted on term limits has passed them. The constitutionality of this is now tming debated in the United States Supreme Court. Some public opinion polls show sup port for them to hover around an astounding three-quarters of respondents, a number that Bill Clinton. Bob Dole, and Newt Gingrich dream about. Obvious ly. to the American voters, they are an idea that's time has come. Just for reference, most pro posals have a 12-year limit for each chamber of the Representa tive branch — two six-year terms in the Senate, and six two year terms in the House Some stricter lengths have been pro posed. but that seems to be the current standard. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and the rest of our nation's founders did not inc lude term limits in any of our country's documents. This is one of the main arguments opponents have used against them. Even though they are a rela tively new idea for members of Congress, most states have such rules for their governors, and ns we all know, there is a two-term limit on the Presidency as well. Why now for our representa tives? That is the question which must he addressed Something about Washington has ( hanged so dramatically in the past few years that they are now regarded as a net ossary step towards alleviating the problems of our capital. The current lobbying system has certainly brought the ques tion to the forefront k Street, the plac e where many of the largest lobbies in the country are located, has become the fourth branch of government. The NRA. labor unions, senior (iti ren's groups, big businesses, pharmaceutical companies, environmentalists, you name it All have a firm grip upon the major policy debates that are presented before Congress. Supporters of term limits believe that their programs will cut the influence (largely mone tary) of these special interest groups They think lhat our rep resentatives will no longer be able to form long term recipro cal relationships with lobbying groups since their days will be numbered, and that this will cut down on the established collu sion between the government and special interests. Although this may be true, lobbying restrictions and cam paign finance reform, which Republicans have defeated at every opportunity, would get to the point more directly. There should be tough restric tions, if not a complete aboli tion. of financial compensation for votes If the COE was serious about ending the influence of lobbyists, that's what they would give us Term limit supporters also say that incumtients have a dispro portions! advantage in cam paigns against political new comers. They believe that this is unfair, and adds to the political entrenchment within Washing ton. Television advertising and talk radio, problems which Jef The biggest danger once term limits pass is that people will think they are enough, because they certainly are not ferson and Madison probably could not have truly compre hended in their day. have destroyed all rational public debate in the political arena. True solutions to these and other campaign problems are not ns simple as the GOP would suggest. Rather than the slimy spate of high-tech political ads and big media blitzes we wit nessed in November, direct debate between candidates must lie encouraged to give the public a clear, rational view of those for whom they are voting. Also, candidates should be accountable for the complete truth this is the most neces sary reform of all The new strain of "spinning." w hich my parents taught me to cadi "lying" show old fashioned). has made every number, every statistic, every event, every vote, a pliable idea rather than a firm fact I'he public should get straight facts, not half-truths, not innu endoes. Term limits will not fix the current Limbaughization Ithe master spinner himself) of American politicians, for it cer tainly will exist no matter how long people remain in office. Term limits are an unfortu nate and immediate necessity Our representative political sys tern is failing in its performance. It is sad that democracy must be interfered with in this manner, but it is the only answer. The biggest danger once term limits pass is that people will think they are enough, because they certainly are not. Along with them, tough and sweeping campaign reforms must be passed to truly change how Washington works If this doesn't happen, special interests will continue to control our government, and our lives Pnmo A J. Fontana is a colum nist for the Emerald.
