After our interview today, it seems that public financing can change our political landscape. With the belief that public funds can help candidates raise money while running against candidates that are often backed by special-interest group.

The benefits stated to the act is that it encourages minorities, women run for office and help environmental issues. There are downflaws to the program, such as it is voluntary and that the amounts given to the candidate are not sufficent to last a whole campaign.  And there is a fuzzy line drawn on whether it is a violating the first amendment of freedom of speech, since we are dealing with taxpayer money used to finance a candidate, who may not have similar interests as you.

Whether or not that this Act ever gets past in Rhode Island, (which does not seem likely with the economic times we are in, since this program does have a cost with it and the state is dealing with a difficult budget). It is a very interesting topic and something that everyone should be aware of whether you are a supporter of it or not. This act is trying to change the way candidate is elected and what is more important in politics than the people who shape our political landscape.

For more information visit  www.fairelectionsri.org (FYI: this is a pro-Public Financing Elections Act website).

Signing off....

Scott Schere

PCP Co-Host