Majority of candidates opt into Minnesota public financing system

The Minnesota Campaign Finance Disclosure Board distributed $3,953,090 in public subsidy payments to 87 percent of the candidates running for state offices Wednesday.

365 of the 416 candidates accepted the public subsidies despite the defunding of the Political Contribution Refund Program and the influx of special interest money since the Citizens United decision, according to Common Cause Minnesota.

“The public subsidy is an important tool being used to combat the wave of special interest money flowing into Minnesota elections,” said Mike Dean, Executive Director of Common Cause Minnesota.  “Candidates Emmer and Horner should be commended for publically supporting this valuable program.”

Dean explained the low spending limits created by public financing level the playing field for candidates, giving them more time to talk with voters and not raising money.

“These independent expenditures make politicians dependent on the corporate and special interests to get elected,” said Dean.  “As long as politicians are accountable to those special interests, they’re never going to be accountable to the people who elected them.”

To qualify for a public subsidy payment, a candidate must:

• be opposed at either the primary or general election
• appear on the general election ballot
• sign and timely file a public subsidy agreement with the Board to abide by applicable campaign expenditure limits,
•  sign and timely file an affidavit of contributions stating that the candidate accumulated a specified amount in contributions from individuals eligible to vote in Minnesota.

Articles

Public subsidies for pols reach $3.9 million - Minneapolis Star Tribune