He also had a plan to publicly finance campaigns - - speech excerpt below.
http://www.algore.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=89&Itemid=84Speech Transcript: Speech On Political And Campaign Reform at Marquette University, WI
Monday, 27 March 2000
(snip)
Experience has shown us that the best path to political reform is step-by-step-and passing McCain-Feingold is the critical first step.
But we must go further in the term of the next President.
The next important steps are tough new lobbying reform, publicly-guaranteed TV time for debates and advocacy by candidates, and a crackdown on issue advocacy ads.
I will propose and fight for a law requiring monthly disclosure of all lobbyists' activities, posted on the Internet and fully accessible to the public. Every citizen will be able to find out to whom lobbyists have contributed, and the specific meetings they've gained to influence specific pieces of legislation.
Full disclosure of lobbying activities can help dry up the supply of special-interest money. Free TV time can help reduce the demand for it.
I said more than ten years ago-and I still believe today-that "broadcasters are given a government license for exclusive use of the public airwaves. In return, they are expected to operate in the public interest."
I will strongly advocate the approach developed by Paul Taylor. Every broadcaster should give every candidate for federal office five minutes of air time a night in the last thirty days before the general election. Cable operators should work with their content providers to establish a similar practice.
And if broadcast stations air independent issue ads, I believe they should be required by the FCC to give-for free-the same amount of air time to both candidates in the race. If broadcasters wanted to avoid the requirement to give such free time, all they have to do is say no to the special interests who want to influence our campaigns. I will petition the FCC to issue a ruling that recognizes this requirement as a necessary part of broadcasters' obligation to serve the public. And I will appoint commissioners who-like some already on the FCC-believe the public interest must be protected in new ways, in light of new threats facing it.
Step by step, we can reduce the influence of special-interest money in campaigns. But our ultimate goal must be to eliminate it altogether.
Some believe the answer is a system of public financing for Congressional and Presidential elections, like the one I first supported in the 1970's.
However, bills to establish public financing of Congressional elections have been introduced in every single session of Congress for a quarter-century-and not a single comprehensive public financing proposal has passed Congress. Almost none have been approved by even one Congressional Committee.
It is time for a new approach to achieve the fundamental goal of freeing our democracy from the coils of special-interest cash.
So I propose the creation of a non-partisan Democracy Endowment-to follow up on the urgent reform of our campaign finance laws by McCain-Feingold with a revolutionary change to further safeguard our self-government in the 21st Century.
The Democracy Endowment will raise more than $7 billion over seven years, and then, with the interest and the returns on investment, finance Senate and House general election campaigns-with no other contributions allowed to candidates who accept the funding.
Let me be clear: this is a non-partisan endowment for our common democracy. You can't give to any one party; you can't give to any one candidate. Every qualified candidate will have access to these funds according to a formula that is based on the district or state in which they are running. The views of the donor will have absolutely no influence on the views of the recipient. In this way, we will break the connection between the giving of money and the gaining of influence in these election contests.
To raise the funds for the Endowment, there will be a 100 percent tax deduction for any individual or corporation that contributes-on a first-come, first-serve basis-until the Endowment is filled. And as soon as it is filled, the tax deduction will sunset.
As President, I will work aggressively to secure these funds-and I will seek the help of every corporation, every union, every major foundation, every dot-com millionaire and every other citizen in America.
If the endowment is not filled within seven years, the difference will be made up by free TV time-required of broadcasters as a condition for their licenses.
This will provide a powerful incentive for broadcasters to air public service announcements that will help fill the fund.
From McCain-Feingold to lobbying reform and a crack-down on special interest issue ads, to the Democracy Endowment, our cause is nothing less than the most sweeping campaign finance reform in history. And it will not be easy. For just as the tobacco companies battle every major measure to reduce teen smoking-just as the HMO lobbyists fight against measures to ensure the best health care, not just the cheapest-they and all the other special interests will be joined together in waging a mighty war to preserve their place and their privileges under the current political system.
But let us understand what is at stake here-our faith in our own self-government, and ultimately, the very future of our democracy.
If we believe in the ideal of one person, one vote, as my father so strongly did-then let us fight for the reforms that make sure every vote counts equally.
If we believe in a government of the people, by the people, and for the people-then let us have an election process of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Some candidates portray themselves as being above the will of the people. They forget that, in spite of the system's degradation, their power still derives from the will of the people. I need you to keep raising your voices in a grassroots movement for reform. I need you to give me your mandate to carry this banner forward.
Together, we can end the money chase, and create a system where we pursue our highest ideals. And if you entrust me with the Presidency, I make you this pledge: I will fight for political reform. I will fight for you. I will fight to give the power in our politics back to the people. Thank you.
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