Ron Paul Leads Obama, Romney, And Santorum With Transparent Campaign Finance Reporting

In a recent analysis of 2012 campaign spending, ProPublica details the Ron Paul campaign’s FEC expense reports. The article makes it clear how incredibly transparent and efficient Ron Paul's campaign is. Like his message of fiscal responsibility and his budget plan that earmarks every single federal dollar, Paul’s campaign is a direct reflection of his philosophy.

For example, “Every bank fee, every 22 cents at a FedEx, every $1 toll on the Florida turnpike, every $5.09 pit stop at Starbucks, every Dunkin' doughnut  – it's all right there, itemized in the Paul campaign's copious expenditure reports.” Even the super PACs supporting him share this rigorous frugality. “Endorse Liberty files all expense within 48 hours, including the $71.92 spent at Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant on Feb. 13 and the 8 cents paid to Google for online advertising on Feb. 27.” See the whole disbursement document here.

Ron Paul's campaign diligently details its $1.07 charge from iTunes

And this isn’t a new phenomenon either; as a Congressman, Paul makes a habit of returning office budget money back to the Treasury and refuses the lavish, taxpayer-subsidized pension every Congressman receives. As a doctor, he never took a dime of federal money, opting instead to see his poorer patients free of charge.

Agree or disagree with Paul, this kind of transparency and accuracy is an incredibly welcome change for an elected representative seeking the presidency. In a time where the federal government can strip-search citizens, detain and even kill American citizens without a warrant in complete secrecy, and run a vast and covert surveillance state, a bit of transparency is needed now more than ever.