Since 1976, Idaho taxpayers have paid a total of nearly $1.6 million to benefit the state's political parties ($735,600 for Idaho Democrats, $728,400 for Republicans and rest to the third parties). This year, taxpayers donated $34,320 to the coffers of the Constitution, Democrat, Libertarian and Republican parties. In 2008, taxpayers contributed $71,429 to political parties, slightly less than a year's wages for two Idaho State Police recruits. The campaign checkoff arrived on federal tax forms in 1972. The concept was to reduce the dependency of presidential campaigns on donations. In 1975, Idaho lawmakers succeeded in passing similar legislation on the state level. The first state checkoff in 1976 generated almost $46,400. On the state level, I'm not sure what the checkoff is really accomplishing apart from siphoning tax dollars away from the state's general fund/Wayne Hoffman, Idaho Freedom Foundation. More here.

Question: Do you agree that it's time to dump the IRS checkoff for direct contributions to major political parties at federal and state levels?