Polarizing Candidates Get Cash Boost in Democratic Vote Bill
Bloomberg
3 hrs ago
Bill Allison
(Bloomberg) -- Democrats in Congress are trying to increase the clout of small donors, yet a provision in their voting-rights legislation risks favoring candidates from either party who hold polarizing views and widening ideological divisions on Capitol Hill.
As part of the sweeping voting-rights bill, House candidates who opt into public financing would get a 600% match for individual contributions of as much as $200, a move intended to lessen the power of deep-pocketed backers. Small-dollar donors, however, tend to give more to candidates who draw national attention as firebrands -- meaning the provision could end up rewarding partisanship.