[EL] 9:30 am ET on C-Span 2: Public Financing Discussion

Sun Jan 12 23:19:28 PST 2014

*This morning at 9:30 am ET Professor Michael Miller is talking on his
public financing book “Subsidizing Democracy
<http://www.newamerica.org/events/2014/subsidizing_democracy>”* at the New
America Foundation, and I’ll comment along with Michael Malbin and Matt
Heinz (Mark Schmitt is the moderator).

The book is an important empirical contribution.  Miller’s data shows that
public financing results in participating candidates spending less time
fundraising, voters being more likely to vote in down-ballot races, and
Republican candidates being less likely to accept public financing and more
likely to face a challenger.

The book, however, focuses largely on systems that provide public financing
grants to candidates that were hampered by the U.S. Supreme Court’s
invalidation of the trigger provision in* Arizona Free Enterprise*, and has
only a few pages on systems that provide a multiple match of donations
(e.g., NYC’s 6-to-1 match which makes a $100 contribution worth $700 to the
candidate).  For me, increasing incentives for candidates to engage
citizens (broaden participation) is more important than limiting spending
or increasing the pool of new candidates.  I also think public financing
should be accompanied by “insurance policies” in the form of Small Donor
PACs and increased coordinated spending limits by parties when using money
from small donors (or the first $200 of any contribution), so that if
future politicians balance budgets by cutting public financing,
revenue-neutral laws remain that incentivize small donor engagement.

A summary of the panel is
here<http://www.newamerica.org/events/2014/subsidizing_democracy>
, *C-Span 2 is covering it live (watch here
<http://www.c-span.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN2/>)*, and my Minnesota Law Review
article on public financing (“Matching Political Contributions”) is
here<http://professorsofcolor.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/matching-political-contributions/>
.

Thanks!

On Wed, Jan 8, 2014 at 4:06 PM, Mark Schmitt <schmitt.mark at gmail.com> wrote:

> Folks in DC might be interested in this discussion on Monday, of a new
> book that comes with a blurb from Rick Hasen, a guarantee of quality:
>
>
>  [image: New NAF Logo]<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001r7gBPkxy-4MDqjrsHGyVo0ujkZd19qe4BAybC7x_HFuyvFBV4rC9ChEkYDgA41GKjmk-v4xANw76joktLisgWq_8j6EW5nw9wupYWgF7VMayyfQM_5M0Zw==>
>
> *Subsidizing Democracy*
>
> *Can Public Financing Change Politics?*
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *Monday January 13, 2014*
>
> *09:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.  *
>
>
>
> *New America Foundation*
> *1899 L Street NW, Suite 400*
> *Washington, DC 20036*
>
>
>
> [image: RSVP]<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001r7gBPkxy-4MdWr0SJ78f224CuCPcALyB0hPdYg2VAPt_rdRSNE_X36tnzql0hU7k_pArPqe6hiLQLaWFTHrEUmY8VNs4koaYGGg1-fR4sZ-QIoXZ_9dFLr6T0hzzRWZf7lJYtYApFkPKfNKEdjMU0Typ8ekyOPpY59U1veDlnYE=>
>
>
> Most efforts to reduce the influence of money on democracy have run
> aground in recent years, because of court decisions, the growth of new
> forms of political organization, and the sheer volume of money directed at
> our high-stakes politics. But with little notice, one reform - voluntary
> public financing of campaigns - has taken hold in several states and
> jurisdictions. Public financing has taken several different forms, from
> full public funding to partial matching systems to tax credits that
> resemble a voucher. Most of these programs have been resilient, generally
> popular with candidates, and have withstood most legal challenges.
>
>
>
> Please join the New America Foundation's Political Reform Program as we
> present the results from the first book-length study of these modern public
> financing programs and whether they can change the culture and practice of
> politics. In *Subsidizing Democracy*, Michael G. Miller of the University
> of Illinois, Springfield, looks at the results of public financing in
> Arizona and several other jurisdictions, and uses data as well as
> interviews to consider how these programs change politics. Do they bring in
> different candidates? Do they allow candidates to spend more time with
> voters? Do they increase public confidence or participation.
>
>
>
> In addition to the author, we'll be joined by three experts on money in
> politics, including a former member of the Arizona legislature who
> participated in the public financing system, who will discuss the book and
> its implications for the future of American politics.
>
>
>
> *Copies of Miller's book will be available for purchase by cash, check, or
> credit card.*
>
>
> *Join the conversation online using #subsidizedemocracy and following
> @NewAmerica. *
>
>
>
> *If you are unable to join us in person, please tune in to our live
> webcast of the event. No signup is required to view the streaming video.  *
>
>
> *Featured Speakers*
>
> *Michael G. Miller*
>
> Associate Professor, University of Illinois, Springfield
>
> Author, *Subsidizing Democracy*
>
>
>
> *Michael J. Malbin*
>
> Executive Director, Campaign Finance Institute
>
>
>
> *Spencer Overton*
>
> George Washington University School of Law
>
>
>
> *Matt Heinz*
>
> Arizona House of Representatives, 2009-2013, and U.S. Dept. of Health and
> Human Services
>
>
>
> *Moderator:*
>
> *Mark Schmitt
> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001r7gBPkxy-4PAdpXiNbwPaapARXw7egQ9zhh6YJSMiAqvYorpVGsfHbyTiJcJtGvq0Cr4yUFLCX3JSk7wfbel87Y6Q1MbEXzJTDixuR6yDFmOba-3QCvLCUrz9g22TVDi>*
>
> Director, Program on Political Reform, New America Foundation
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *To RSVP for the event, click on the red button or go to the event page: *
>
> *http://newamerica.net/events/2014/subsidizing_democracy
> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001r7gBPkxy-4MdWr0SJ78f224CuCPcALyB0hPdYg2VAPt_rdRSNE_X36tnzql0hU7k_pArPqe6hiLQLaWFTHrEUmY8VNs4koaYGGg1-fR4sZ-QIoXZ_9dFLr6T0hzzRWZf7lJYtYApFkPKfNKEdjMU0Typ8ekyOPpY59U1veDlnYE=>*
>
>
>
> *For questions, contact Liana Simonds at New America at (202) 735-2829
> <202%29%20735-2829> orsimonds at newamerica.org <simonds at newamerica.org>.*
>
>
>
>  www.NewAmerica.net<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001r7gBPkxy-4OnmSmNVCH5N5u7etbYi5IzrRtoddjN0NNV3av1imVBj8FeBgZizCxHq07AluFvBkaIupYivoQcSYphPAbKVLpGZM4SrwrcPxyvTdevtCk2QA==>
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-- 

Spencer Overton <http://spenceroverton.com/>
Professor of Law
Director, GW Political Law Studies
Initiative<http://www.law.gwu.edu/Academics/research_centers/politicallaw/Pages/AboutPLSI.aspx>
Stealing Democracy <http://www.stealingdemocracy.com/excerpts.cfm>
(book), Discrimination
in Covered States<http://www.scotusblog.com/2013/02/shelby-county-v-holder-voting-discrimination-remains-concentrated-in-covered-states/>
, Racial Entitlement<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/spencer-overton/voting-rights-act-supreme-court_b_2780810.html>,
The Other Voting
Case<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/spencer-overton/arizona-voting-supreme-court_b_2895728.html>
 (commentaries)
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