N.C. Approves Public Financing for Insurance Commissioner, Others

By | July 30, 2007

The North Carolina House narrowly approved the expansion of a voluntary public financing program for three more statewide elected offices, a move meant to reduce the influence of special interest money.

Under the proposal, initially approved 53-52 after House Speaker Joe Hackney broke a tie last week, candidates for insurance commissioner, state auditor and superintendent of public instruction would be allowed to participate. The program is similar to one already used for Supreme Court and Court of Appeals candidates.

Those candidates who collect small contributions from at least 750 voters statewide before the primary would be eligible for taxpayer money of at least $300,000 for the general elections.

The program could blunt criticism that some Council of State candidates receive campaign dollars from groups that the office holder regulates, supporters said.

The $4.5 million pilot program “will tell us whether public financing does improve confidence in our system and does improve the quality of candidates who are running and the opportunity for candidates who want to run,” said Rep. Rick Glazier, D-Cumberland, one of the bill’s primary sponsors.

Passage this year is unclear because the bill still must pass the Senate, and lawmakers are working to adjourn Thursday.

Republicans largely opposed the measure, complaining that public financing for appellate court races failed when a “527” political group that received more than $200,000 in outside money ran television ads supporting four candidates in the final week before last November’s election.

But the State Board of Elections declined to provide more money to qualifying candidates to offset ads and mailings by FairJudges.Net, which was financed largely by the Democratic Party and party contributors.

“Last time we did play fair, and then the 527s came out,” said Rep. Curtis Blackwood, R-Union.

But bill supporters say things are different this time around because the program strengthens a portion of the bill that gives more money to a qualifying candidate when an opponent not receiving public funds – or an outside group – spends more money than the state provides.

At least one Democrat, Rep. Ronnie Sutton of Robeson County, is worried that the pilot will be expanded to all Council of State races.

“I don’t want my tax dollars going to them for campaign money,” Sutton said.

Like the appellate court program, first implemented in 2004, the State Board of Elections would publish and distribute a voter guide highlighting candidates in the three Council of State races.

Topics North Carolina

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