Yesterday, the West Virginia House of Delegates passed H.B. 4130, a bill that would enact a pilot program for public financing in state Supreme Court elections.

The Baltimore Sun has an editorial today that urges Maryland lawmakers to push ahead with Clean Elections legislation next session despite an unfavorable court ruling in Connecticut.

Citing a near complete lack of competitive legislative races in the state, the Blue Jersey blog makes the case for expanding New Jersey's Clean Elections pilot program.

Connecticut state Rep. Deborah Heinrich (D-Madison, North Guilford) has been involved in state politics for nearly a decade, and is now serving in her third term in the General Assembly. Beginning in 2002 when she worked with lawmakers on the Emergency Health Powers Act, and continuing through her election to the state house in 2004, Heinrich has seen the ins and outs of politics in Connecticut.

Big campaign contributions are the rule rather than the exception in the 50 states, according to a recent report by the Institute on Money in State Politics.