Doolittle, joined by Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas), encouraged the Director of the Office of Management and Budget Josh Bolton, House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle (R-Iowa), and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) to recommend that President Bush eliminate this program immediately.

The American people have soundly rejected the public financing of campaigns with 89 percent of taxpayers choosing not to support the Presidential Election Campaign Fund last year. The 11 percent who chose to “contribute” merely authorized a diversion of funds from the general treasury to a tremendously unpopular program.

“The Presidential Election Campaign Fund is an antiquated program that continues to spend tens of millions of tax dollars a year despite overwhelming opposition to the program from both the taxpayer and candidates. Eliminating this unpopular program would save taxpayers $240 million over the next five years,” Doolittle said.

In 2004, President Bush, Senator Kerry, and former Governor Howard Dean chose not to participate in the system, allowing fringe candidates such as Ralph Nader and Lyndon LaRouche to receive over $28 million in taxpayer funds.

“Rather than forcing taxpayers to give hundreds of millions of dollars to fringe candidates, the same money could be used to aid our soldiers, reduce the deficit, help hurricane victims, or contribute to any of our nation’s needs. The Presidential Election Campaign Fund is an abuse of taxpayer dollars and should be eliminated as soon as possible,” Doolittle concluded.

U.S. Rep. John T. Doolittle has served in the House of Representatives since 1991. As Secretary of the House Republican Conference, he is an elected member of the House Republican Leadership. Doolittle represents California’s 4th Congressional District and serves on the Appropriations Committee, Energy and Water, Agriculture, and Interior Subcommittees, and the House Administration Committee.