Anyone who believes, as your editorial ("Your Senate, your money," May 10) suggests, that public financing of campaigns is a "public investment in democracy," should look at the unholy trinity of New York City Democrats:
Does anyone doubt that Democratic state Sen. Malcolm Smith's desperation to get into an unwinnable Republican mayoral primary was done to fatten his campaign account with matching funds?
Or that former Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner, driven by the city program's "use it or lose it" provisions, is now salivating at the chance to rebuild his war chest on the backs of New York City taxpayers?
Or that the staffers to Democratic mayoral candidate John Liu who were convicted of creating fake donors did so to take advantage of the city's public financing scheme?
These three teach us that public campaign financing doesn't prevent corruption, it creates corruption.
New York taxpayers are the most beleaguered in America; why should the state force them to fork over more welfare for politicians?
Ed Cox
Chairman
New York Republican
State Committee