GOP presidential candidate Buddy Roemer issued a press release Wednesday attacking U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta for supporting a bill that would eliminate voluntary public financing of presidential campaigns.
Guinta, R-N.H., last week praised House passage of HR 3463, which would terminate public financing of presidential campaigns.
"Despite spending over one billion dollars since 1976, taxpayer financing of presidential campaigns has failed to improve the public's trust in government or increase the competitiveness of elections," Guinta said in a press release. He said the bill is one of many steps he is taking to "do away with waste and duplication" in federal government.
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That led Roemer, an advocate of campaign finance reform, to issue a press release Wednesday afternoon criticizing Guinta for lauding the passage of a bill that would eliminate "one of the best methods of protecting our political system from corruption.
"Perhaps it’s Guinta’s zeal to be seen as a thrifty Congressman who can cut wasteful spending," Roemer added. "And instead of cutting taxes, which would be more impressive, he proposes to appropriate contributions that patriotic Americans have voluntarily made to the election system! That’s not the type of reform Americans are looking for, Mr. Guinta.”
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Roemer also took aim at earlier FEC complaints against Guinta by the New Hampshire Democratic Party during his run for Congress last year.
"It is not lost on Granite State voters that Congressman Guinta was the subject of 2 FEC complaints regarding a loan he issued to his campaign while running for Congress, and which he failed to report," he said. "Guinta's explanation, or lack thereof, is less than compelling according to reports I've read. Whether Guinta's explanation holds any water or not is for the voters and the FEC to decide, but one would think Guinta would be the first to support voluntary public financing of campaigns that help to end corruption."
Reached Wednesday, Guinta spokesman J. Mark Powell said he had "nothing to say," about Roemer's comments.
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