"The irony is that the bill's most immediate effect would be felt by Republicans - including those connected to the tea party movement - who might find it difficult to mount a credible primary run without public funding.
This is especially true given the presence of well-funded establishment figures such as former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who has amassed substantial support from wealthy donors.
Public financing could give a leg up to potential GOP candidates with shallower pockets, such as Reps. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) and Mike Pence (Ind.), both of whom voted to scrap the system."
An unintended consequence of this bill (if it were to actually become law) -- it will make ballot access much harder for most candidates. Many of the states have laws that automatically qualify you for the ballot if you qualify for public funding. If you don't qualify for public funding, getting on the ballot in states like Ohio is extremely difficult.
