August 2, 2005 |
2005-R-0614 | |
CAMPAIGN SPENDING BEFORE AND AFTER PUBLIC FINANCING | ||
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By: Kristin Sullivan, Research Analyst | ||
Under the public financing programs in the 2000 and 2002 elections, average expenditures by legislative candidates in Arizona and Maine decreased in Maine but increased in Arizona compared with previous elections. Table 1 shows those averages. In Nebraska, average legislative candidate spending does not reveal a clear trend, either an increase or a decrease, since the implementation of its voluntary spending limit program in 1996. Table 2 shows Nebraska’s averages.
TABLE 1: AVERAGE CANDIDATE SPENDING IN ARIZONA AND MAINE
State |
Pre-Public Financing |
Post-Public Financing | ||
Chamber |
1996 |
1998 |
2000 |
2002 |
Arizona | ||||
House |
$ 15,800 |
$ 17,200 |
$ 26,700 |
$ 25,300 |
Senate |
16,900 |
18,100 |
32,600 |
27,100 |
Maine | ||||
House |
4,800 |
5,500 |
3,800 |
4,500 |
Senate |
18,400 |
20,300 |
16,800* |
16,400 |
Source: General Accountability Office
* Includes one candidate who spent $ 143,199. When he is excluded, the average drops to $ 15,065.
TABLE 2: AVERAGE CANDIDATE SPENDING IN NEBRASKA*
Expenditures |
Pre-Public Financing |
Post-Public Financing | |||||||
1986 |
1988 |
1990 |
1992 |
1994 |
1996 |
1998 |
2000 |
2004 | |
Total expenditures (primary and general combined) |
$ 1,470,950 |
$ 904,732 |
$ 1,546,705 |
$ 1,664,973 |
$ 1,729,523 |
$ 1,345,335 |
$ 1,528,889 |
$ 1,681,355 |
$ 1,362,435 |
Average per candidate |
21,014 |
13,112 |
23,795 |
17,165 |
30,884 |
22,802 |
28,313 |
30,024 |
25,706 |
Source: Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission
* Nebraska has a unicameral legislature.
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