Bartlett: End U.S. convention funding

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., has introduced legislation to end taxpayer-funding of U.S. political nominating conventions.

"I see no justification for the taxpayers to pay for the political parties to party," the Maryland Republican said.

During recent years, public funds allocated for party conventions have declined relative to contributions from corporations and individuals, which have increased precipitously.

But Roll Call said that hasn't changed Bartlett's view that any amount of taxpayer money directed toward the quadrennial events is misguided.

"Taxpayers' money is already dwarfed several times over by special-interest money at both political conventions," Bartlett said during an interview published Tuesday. "All the more reason we should abolish it, since it's obviously not needed."

Without counting $25 million in federal security grants for each, the Democratic and Republican conventions cost more than $65 million and $100 million, in that order, according to the Campaign Finance Institute.

The federal government provided 23 percent of the funding for the Democratic National Convention in Boston and 14 percent of the funding for the GOP's New York City event.