Congress has taken steps to remove public funds from partially paying for national party conventions, but corporations, unions, and individuals will soon be on the hook for making up the difference. The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill by voice vote to end taxpayer funding for presidential party conventions and use those funds for researching pediatric cancer and other childhood disorders. The funds come from the $3 check-off on taxpayer annual returns. In 2012, the Democratic and Republican National Conventions each received $18 million from the taxpayer funding. In addition, each raised private funds for their conventions. The Democrats raised $37 million. The Republicans raised $57 million. Without taxpayer funding, the parties will be going back to donors to earlier conventions for even larger contributions for 2016. For some donors there is an advertising justification, and for others they may provide in-kind products or services, but all donors receive special thanks from national public policy makers. (more…)
