Kucinich proposes measure to mandate taxpayer-funded campaigns

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) on Thursday proposed a constitutional amendment that would require all federal campaign funding to come from taxpayer dollars. 

Kucinich argued in an announcement statement that his amendment would in effect overturn the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which allows outside groups to spend unlimited amounts to influence campaigns. That decision, Kucinich said, put U.S. democracy "on the auction block."

"With corporate private financing, we have officials working for the interest of corporations," said a statement from Kucinich as reported by Cleveland's The Plain Dealer on Friday. "With public financing, we have officials working for the public. And public financing will actually save taxpayers' money, by eliminating any incentive of public officials to reward campaign contributors with taxpayer subsidies.

“We must rescue American democracy from unlimited corporate money,” Kucinich continued. “This is the most fundamental issue facing the future of our nation.

Kucinich is currently locked in tough primary fight with his fellow House member Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) over who will carry the Democratic mantle in the newly redrawn 9th congressional district in this fall's elections.