Do you check the box on your income tax return that allows a dollar of the funds that you sent to the
government to go for presidential campaigns? If so, what moves you to do this?
If not, why not?
Have you ever contributed to a political campaign? If so, why?
If not, why not?
Do you agree with the Citizens United decision that freedom to contribute money to a campaign by
a corporation is protected by the First Amendment? If so, why?
If not, why not?
Do you think that since that decision by the Supreme Court there has been too much influence by corporations on our elections?
Who do you think has more influence on elections in the United States - wealthy individuals or corporations?
Do you think either of their influences should be curbed and if so, how do you think that might be done?
What do you know about public funding for presidential campaigns in this country?
What do you know about public funding for elections in other countries?
In the states of Maine and Arizona?
In no country are elections totally financed with public funds. In most of those where there are
substantial public funds going into elections there are total or partial restrictions on donations from citizens of foreign countries and many have a public/private matching provision. If we were to move towards increased public funding of elections in this country, what model would you choose and why?
In this country who is eligible for matching funds from the government is determined by the
Federal Elections Committee, and the funding itself is given out by the Treasury.
Are you concerned about the fact that an extremely wealthy private individual now has access to
the Treasury Department’s computers and that this
could affect how matching funds are administered in the next presidential election?
Would you be in favor of a system where elections are completely publicly funded, and every candidate has
exactly the same amount of money to spend - or that there were
limits on campaign spending that would determine that no one could spend more than a certain amount?
What kind of public movement do you think would be required to make this happen?