TAXPAYERS BEAR BRUNT OF COST OF PARTIES TO PARTY

The Democratic convention this week offers viewers a lot of pomp and circumstance. The Republicans will do the same when they gather in Houston next month. Even though most of us won't be attending, we'll be footing much of the bill. That revelry doesn't come without a hefty cost to the American taxpayer. In all, taxpayers will shell out $49 million for these two conventions.

Of that, $22 million split evenly among both parties comes from the federal government. That money is generated by taxpayers who check off a box on their income tax returns designating $1 for public campaign financing. Another $26.8 million will come from municipal taxes in the host cities.

Considering the federal government's $400 million budget deficit, we have to wonder if these tax dollars could be better spent elsewhere. It's a lot of money to spend on party revelry. It's also a bill that has risen six-fold since public financing began. The federal government's convention tab has grown from $3.52 million in 1976 to $22.1 million this year. Where will it end?

Today's political conventions offer little suspense or official business. That wasn't always the case. As late as 1968, actual decisions on selection of a party's presidential candidate were made at conventions. But since 1972, presidential primaries and caucuses have determined the outcomes. The conventions do little more than ratify the choices. As one political science professor observed, these conventions have turned into mere coronations.

That's not to say the conventions don't serve a purpose. It's a chance for the parties to finalize and publicize their platforms to voters. Some of the issues that will dominate the fall campaign may be debated, but for the most part, rhetoric rules.

This method of convention financing grew out of the post-Watergate campaign reforms. The idea was to eliminate special interest money, and perhaps the special interests of donators. But the reforms haven't stopped the influx of private donations. Private convention donations will top $6.5 million in New York, and $4.3 million in Houston.

While the host city contributions are substantial, at least they will reap financial returns. New York, alone, expects to realize more than $188 million in direct spending. But the same can't be said for the federal contributions. From the first gavel to the acceptance speeches, the conventions are little more than political celebrations with a big price tag. As such, the parties would be well-advised to scale back future conventions. The taxpaying public is growing weary of government waste, and the political parties are not above scrutiny.