NC House approves taxpayer campaign financing test

RALEIGH — The state House tentatively approved legislation that would allow cities and towns to decide whether local election campaigns should get taxpayer subsidies.

The House voted 60-52 to let local councils decide whether to adopt public financing rules like those to be used in Chapel Hill this year. Statewide candidates for appellate judges, auditor, insurance commissioner and schools superintendent also get public funding.

Supporters said using local taxpayer money for candidates that collect signatures and a few hundred dollars to show their backing would balance big money’s effects in local campaigns.

Opponents said public financing would force taxpayers to support candidates they might dislike.

A final House vote could come Thursday.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)