I'm grateful to all the Republican Reporter readers who offer ideas and suggestions for this blog. 
None have been more supportive than my wife Audra.

    And I think her latest idea is a winner.  

First the setup...
    Political campaigns funds are a political dark hole through which many politicians are able to fund excessive lifestyles.  The Federal Election Commission only prohibits the use of campaign funds for "personal expenses".  However, anything that can be viewed as related to their political office, or running for office can be paid for with the campaign funds.  This includes hiring their family members to work on their campaign staff.
    
    While there have been several attempts to reform the campaign process, little if any impact has resulted.  


Audra's proposal:
    1. Require political candidates to pay taxes on the political donations that they receive.  In fact, do it on a graduated scale.  Graduate the scale to such a level that a candidate and his contributors actually have a disincentive to raise money beyond a particular level.
    2. Apply the same tax to anyone running independent political ads for or against a candidate.  

While the numbers can certainly be altered, here's a starting point.
        
          Campaign raises $1 - $100,000                  Taxed at 15%
          Campaign raises $100,000 - $250,000       Taxed at 25%
          Campaign raises $1,000,000                         Well, then they are like an AIG executive, and the campaign should be taxed at 90%! 
    
Here's the upside:
    1. Suddenly we create an effective method for limiting campaign contributions (and the undue influence of the contributors)
    2. We raise additional revenue for government coffers from sources (campaign contributors) that have obvious disposable income.
    3. Elective office is not the exclusive domain of who can raise the most money.  Rather we elect individuals who are the most careful and creative in the use of their limited campaign dollars.    

Hmm...........electing people to Congress who spend money wisely.

I LOVE IT!   

What do you think?