Linguists must be having a field day with the debate currently raging before the state Senate Judiciary Committee.
Members voted 6-2 on Monday to refer a ballot initiative that would eliminate public financing of candidate campaigns.
The measure was originally adopted in 1998 as the “Clean Elections Act,” and allows taxpayers to deduct donations to a fund that is available to candidates running for office.
The idea behind the program is to reduce the influence of special interest contributions and finance people who might not otherwise have the means to become candidates.
Business groups and conservative advocates oppose the law, arguing the program is a taxpayer subsidy.
Hence, the proposal approved by the Senate committee on Monday is called the “No Taxpayer Subsidy For Political Campaigns Act.”
What we find interesting is the importance lawmakers are placing on what to call this proposed amendment to the state Constitution.
The phrase “clean elections,” creates the idea that fraud, undue influence and other unscrupulous acts, are eliminated thanks to the...
