Arizona was one of the first states in the country to pass a Clean Elections law so University of Arizona student Matt Styer knows what of he speaks in this opinion piece in the Arizona Daily Wildcat advocating a move towards public financing of elections at the federal level.

Out of control spending and desire to leave behind big money campaign tactics for more retail-style politics prompts Styer to recommend a public financing system that would limit the big spending we see today:

Candidates would qualify for their share of the money based on a number of signatures or perhaps a small amount of initial fundraising from individuals. Prospective candidates would be free to spend the money as they do now, funding advertising and grassroots organizing. We'd reap the same benefits from their get-out-the-vote-for-me efforts as we do now (increased awareness, increased voter registration and activism,), but because of the limit on spending, they'd have to sacrifice quantity for quality - and here quality means a much more direct message focused on issues, without all the typical spin.