Proposal heads in the right direction, but leaves some questions unanswered Washington, DC—Statement by Nick Nyhart, Executive Director, Public Campaign Action Fund, on Gov. Howard Dean's presidential public financing proposal. “Governor Dean’s tactic of asking his supporters to decide whether he opts out of the presidential public financing system has captured the attention of the political establishment. What is more important, however, and what should not be missed, is what Governor Howard Dean proposed today – a dramatic overhaul of the broken presidential public financing system. The proposal, which relies on a five-to-one match of relatively small donations, would be an improvement over the current law, and is a big step in the right direction. “For guidance in drafting specific policies, Governor Dean and all the presidential candidates ought to look at the incredible success stories in the laboratories of Arizona and Maine. Citizens in these states, fed up with big money politics, adopted far-reaching public financing laws that truly leveled the playing field, broke the grip of special interests over state policy, and attracted new participants into the political process. “This proposal and his statement, though, leave some important questions unanswered. “On policy, will small donations, which get matched under Dean’s plan on a five-to-one basis, still be drowned out by those who can give $2,000? If this plan fails to substantially lower the contribution limit to an amount that most Americans can afford, then candidates will continue to seek out the biggest contributors irrespective of the match. “On politics, in what ways will he move an agenda for a comprehensive public financing law in time for the 2008 presidential election? We know from direct experience that it takes tremendous grassroots pressure to get elected officials to vote for comprehensive reform. Governor Dean invoked the words of President Abraham Lincoln. He can signal his commitment to this cause with a simple gesture today, tomorrow, or next week – he can urge his supporters to read and sign the “Lincoln Call: A Presidency Of, By, and For the People” which can be found at www.pcactionfund.org/lincolncall/. “It is clear that Governor Dean is viewed by so many disaffected Americans as a different kind of politician. He can demonstrate this once again by pledging to take action, and asking Americans to take action on the agenda’s behalf, not just his own.