The nonpartisan Center for Governmental Studies has released a report praising the North Carolina judicial public financing system.

The New York Times editorializes on the state of politics in New York and makes some suggestions.

"CLEANER MONEY New York’s campaign finance system is a disgrace. When the Legislature is in session, lawmakers spend every night harvesting campaign funds, often using loopholes as big as a bank. Write “party housekeeping” on the check, and it can have as many zeros as you want. Corporate subsidiaries have a field day. And the lobbyists who write the checks then also write the laws. Public financing should be the goal, but even real, enforceable limits would be a start."

Democrat Al Franken is set to be sworn into the Senate next week as Minnesota's second senator. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, one of his first acts in office will be to interview U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor at her confirmation hearing. Franken intends to use this opportunity to ask Sotomayor about campaign finance reform.

"Interviewed on Minnesota Public Radio this morning, Franken said he is concerned about the role of corporate money in political races and would quiz Sotomayor on constitutional barriers to public financing of campaigns."

The Huffington Post reports that health care companies are splurging on travel and vacations for members of Congress.

As our lawmakers on Capitol Hill press on to make June 30th fund raising goals, former Senator Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) has some reflections.

The Center for Governmental Studies has released a new report "Public Campaign Financing in North Carolina Judiciary: Balancing The Scales (2009)."