Hightower Lowdown

It’s common for opponents of public financing to dismiss it as a Big Government intrusion that people don’t want. Apparently, these CE adversaries failed to check with the people on this. In a national survey last June, pollster Celinda Lake did check with folks on how they felt about applying the clean-election concept to congressional elections. The results:

■ 74% support having voluntary public funding of federal elections (57% strongly support it and only 16% oppose it).

■ 60% of Republicans favor this reform (as do 80% of Democrats and 78% of Independents).

■ All age groups, genders, and regions support it--most by about 75% majorities (none by less than 60%).

■ 82% say public funding means candidates will win on ideas, not money; 81% say politicians will be accountable to voters, not large donors; and 77% say special interests will not receive as many favors and insider deals from officeholders.

Some say we shouldn’t give our tax dollars to politicians. Hello! We give ALL of our tax dollars to politicians! Instead of letting them allocate our tax funds based on who paid for their campaigns, let’s fund campaigns publicly, so there’s no conflict of interest.