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1 Mark Robyn, The Presidential Election Campaign Fund: A Voluntary Tax That Stirs Little Enthusiasm 1 (2008)

handle is hein.taxfoundation/ffbdaxz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: FOUNDATION: The Presidential Election Campaign Fund: A Voluntary Tax That Stirs Little Enthusiasm Fiscal Fact No. 130 by Mark Robyn June 20, 2008 Senator Obama's abandonment of public financing for the presidential election is a first since the public funds were set up, and it refocuses attention on the concept and implementation of public financing. Congress has been using the IRS for years to squirrel money away for presidential campaigns. The program is called the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, and little noticed by taxpayers, the Fund has been distributing millions of dollars to presidential candidates on a regular basis. What is the Presidential Election Campaign Fund? On the 1040 form, nestled between one's address and filing status, is a box marked Presidential Election Campaign. A brief explanation on the 1040 directs taxpayers to check the box if they want $3 of their tax payments to go into this fund ($6 for couples). Taxpayers are assured that they are not paying extra if they check the box. Despite this (dubious) assurance that the contribution costs the taxpayer nothing, only about 12 percent of taxpayers put a check in that box. Explanations for low participation boil down to four main arguments: * Taxpayers are angry about the tax code in general. Perhaps the mood of average tax filers in the middle of a 1040 is not kindly disposed to the politicians responsible for the confusing, expensive income tax code. Taxpayers oppose public funding ofpolitical campaigns inprinciple. Some taxpayers may appreciate their lawmakers but still believe that politicians should fund their own careers.