Such spending does not count against the expenditure limit.

At the heart of the system is a gubernatorial expenditure limit, which prohibits candidates who accept public funds from spending more than $5 million during a general election.

Thus, the expenditure limit has dampened involvement by average citizens within the system itself.

In 1989, for example, the state Democratic Party raised and spent about $10 million, none of which was counted against the expenditure limit of its gubernatorial nominee.

The current expenditure limit is simply too low to offset these advantages; hence, the limit protects the status quo.

"But as a person who believes in the power of the individual, I'm concerned that artificial expenditure limits will produce as many problems as it cures."

Many clients, particularly government departments, have expenditure limits imposed on them.

A three-member administrative board ruled last week that candidates may not deduct fund-raising expenses from the expenditure limits.

In our proposal, we will strictly observe the expenditure limits of Agenda 2000.

The Chancellor has considerable control over other departments as it is the Treasury which sets departmental expenditure limits.