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
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■ OPINION
Stop special interests with term limits
Primp A. J. Kqmvna
One of the hottest topics in
the pundit business
these clays is term limits.
It was a part of the Republic an's
Contract With America and has
been one of the most passionate
ly debated Issues to fac e Con
gress this session.
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.