The Print Debate process was originally developed by John Connolly, who authored several opinion editorials on this process beginning in 1992 in the San Francisco Chronicle. The Print Debate concept is best defined by Mr. Connolly in the New Jersey Star Ledger (PDF, 40k), the Seattle Times (PDF, 175k) and Roll Call (PDF, 1.4 MB).

To date, Mr. Connolly is the sole source of funding for this project. His only involvement in a political campaign was in 1988 as a media strategist for a consumer ballot initiative in California. Proposition 103, which passed and is now the law of the land in California, is a car insurance reform measure. At that time, with the exception of a presidential campaign, it was the most expensive campaign in U.S. history. This ballot initiative was written by Harvey Rosenfield and endorsed by Ralph Nader.

Mr. Connolly has a wide range of business interests, including several partnerships based on his inventions and patents, none of which have any bearing on the political process. Nor are any of these interests affected in any direct or meaningful way by politics other than the general macroeconomic activity that naturally affects most businesses.

In the spring of 2004, Mr. Connolly took several steps to advance the Print Debate as an independent enterprise. To that end, he has engaged both Democrats and Republicans to develop a wide range of elements that define the Print Debate. He has affirmed the following two points:

"No political groups or organizations are in any way involved with the Print Debate."

"The original principle that shaped the conception of this idea in 1988 remains true today. The Print Debate process encourages a step-by-step exposition of opposing platforms in a format that can be widely distributed and easily digested, thereby creating a central historical record. Thus, regardless of anyone's political views, a Print Debate is in the public interest."