May 1998
Affiliate News: New Jersey
Power, not money, is the real cause of political corruption, two Libertarians told the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. And taxpayer-provided campaign funding is not the solution."Until the state confines itself to its legitimate functions -- protecting individual rights and keeping the peace -- the high cost of political campaigns will persist," said NJLP Secretary Emerson Ellett. "As long as the state takes in billions of dollars, special interests will fight to get their hands on them."
Ellett and Treasurer Lou Stefanelli also pointed out at the February 18 hearing that the public is strongly against taxpayer-financed campaigns -- and the majority "votes" against them by refusing to use the state income-tax checkoff.
Besides, the check-off gives the mere illusion of democratic participation, said Ellett. Since Jerseyans have overwhelmingly rejected public financing, why continue it?"
