GOP Senator eyes public financing bill(Voinovich on Dodd, Durbin proposal)

[Pirate Smile]

GOP Senator eyes public financing bill
By Elana Schor

Sen. George Voinovich, Ethics Committee chairman and a sometime gadfly to Republican leadership, is warming to Democratic-backed proposals for public financing of federal elections.

Voinovich (R-Ohio) told The Hill that he has met with Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) to discuss collaboration on the public-financing pitch Durbin is crafting with Sen. Chris Dodd (Conn.), the Rules Committee’s ranking Democrat. Snagging the endorsement of Voinovich, who last year bucked his party by opposing the confirmation of U.N. Ambassador John Bolton and has so far taken a supporting role in the GOP’s push for lobbying reform, could give the public-financing concept considerable momentum.

"Maybe it is the answer," Voinovich said. "Too much of our time is spent raising money, time spent campaigning, time buying TV ads. When everyone’s out there trying to raise money, dialing for dollars ... until we deal with this issue you’re going to continue to have problems."

Voinovich’s enthusiasm for a public financing system, versions of which have been instituted at state and local levels in seven states, comes as Republicans continue to hammer out a lobbying-reform package that can be swiftly marked up after this week’s recess.

http://hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/022206/gop.html

[Daphne08]

1. I think it's a great idea. We need to do everything possible to

separate OUR Senators and Representatives from the grip of corporate lobbyists and their $$.

[Pirate Smile]

2. It is really the only way to get the Congress to focus on the people and

the greater good, instead of the people who fund their reelections.

The changes would be enormous.

Al Franken keeps pushing this hard and I wish the all Dems would get behind this but they would definitely have to figure how to sell it to people the right way.

This would save the taxpayers money in the end because we wouldn't be paying off the oil industry, pharmaceutical industry, insurance industry, etc in huge tax breaks and corporate welfare.

[KC21304]

4. And you know these corporations are passing

on to us the cost of their wining and dining so we are paying so many times over. Worst of all we are paying dearly by the poor quality of our politicians. The system attracts so many scoundrels.

[0007]

3. .....and the Carlyle Group & the Hallibuton boys

[loudsue]

5. Fine. Now that they've got the voting machines sewn up, they can

start saving $$ trying to get elected. There's no need! All they have to do is make sure they're on the list to win when the computer is programmed, and look how much $$ they saved!

Why don't the congresscritters try LEGITIMIZING OUR ELECTIONS while they're also legitimizing the $$ spent on elections.

I'm TOTALLY for public funding of elections...as long as NO OTHER MONEY IS ALLOWED.

I just wish they would give us back our right to have our votes counted.

:kick:

[Pirate Smile]

6. kick