The Trenton Times is running a supportive editorial following the release by New Jersey's Citizens' Clean Election Commission of its finding that the Fair and Clean Elections pilot project in the state should be expanded. Check out the last paragraph in particular for a good answer to the "why public financing?" question.

Meanwhile, the Hartford Courant - fresh off of covering both the passage and defense of Connecticut's Clean Election system - questions the latest efforts at reform in Congress and offers the following: "Congress should have shown more resolve. For example, it could have created an independent, nonpartisan Office of Public Integrity empowered to investigate ethical issues in either chamber. Even better, it could have pursued public financing of campaigns as a way of insulating public policy decisions from the sway of special interest money."