He also spent $1,698 for a personal computer, delivered to his home; $4,618 for landscaping, paid to a company owned by a campaign contributor; and $13,000 in unitemized personal reimbursements during that period.

Some are merely rich campaign contributors, and a few have turned out to be startlingly incompetent.

Some demonstrators complained that the bill had originated with wealthy campaign contributors who would reward legislators for passing the bill.

And once elected, these publicly financed politicians are accountable to their constituents rather than to campaign contributors.

This allows delivery of federal funds to the local district or state of the appropriation committee member, often accommodating major campaign contributors.