Partial Federal Financing of Congressional Elections. This amendment would set up the same unnecessary and constitutionally unauthorized taxpayer campaign subsidy system for congressmen as already exists for presidential candidates. Noting that only 12 percent of taxpayers checked the box on their income tax forms last year to fund presidential elections, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) stated: "Clearly, this is an idea that is overwhelmingly unpopular with the American people."
The Senate rejected the amendment to S. 27 on March 27, 2001 by a vote of 30-70 (Roll Call 52). We have assigned pluses to the nays.