Courtesy of the Brennan Center's Laura MacCleery and Andrew Stengel this summary of the principle shortcomings of the current presidential partial public financing system, and the major changes that need to be made to ensure the system can continue to do its job mediating the influence of big contributions on the electoral process and allowing candidates without access to deep pockets to remain competitive.

Having passed out of the Hawaii Senate and House, a bill to create a pilot program of full public financing for county council elections on the Big Island now awaits approval by Governor Linda Lingle. The people at Voter-Owned Hawaii have been pursuing public financing for Hawaii's elections for many years -- I hope they'll soon be able to celebrate this victory!

Missed this one on the day it was published but I was glad to see it today. Jack Miller of Indianapolis wrote a great letter to the editor in support of the Fair Elections Now Act, public financing of elections, and the real "change" we've been hearing so much about this presidential race. Full letter after the jump.

Will New Jersey's Election Law Enforcement Commission feel the squeeze of budget cuts and workforce reduction? If Governor Jon Corzine's (D) budget is any indication, the agency which is responsible for oversight of the state's pilot Clean Elections program could see staffing cuts that undermine its ability to fulfill its mission.

Faith Bremner of Oregon's Statesmen Journal talks with Michael Malbin about the presidential public financing program: it's flaws, potential fixes, and why the public seems to know less and less about how it works with each passing year. Did you mark the check-off on your tax return this year?

Phillip Munger of Progressive Alaska blogs on the kickoff of the campaign to win Clean Elections in Alaska.  In August, voters will have a chance to vote on a ballot initiative that would create a Clean Elections public financing program for state races, a much-needed antidote to the stories of corruption and influence-peddling consuming the state.  Between now and August the Clean Elections coalition in Alaska will be working overtime to educate Alaskans about what the initiative would mean for the state.