Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell's is proposing a new round of contribution limits for state races saying " "Campaign spending is spiraling out of control, and the result is that those with big money are getting a larger and larger say in the outcome of our elections." According to this article in The Patriot-News, more than a few Pennsylvania lawmakers are eager to lessen the influence of money on elections.

Rep. Jim Gerlach (R), for instance, calls fundraising " "the worst part of the job. It does take away from what you otherwise want to do, which is legislating, going to meetings, even being with your family or getting around the district." And Senator Bob Casey Jr. (D) who beat incumbent Rick Santorum (R) in a hotly contested (and wildly expensive race last year) admits he had to spend at least half his day raising money.

There's no question there's interest in change -- and as the article notes, another Pennsylvanian, Senator Arlen Specter (R) is championing the Fair Elections Now Act to bring public financing of elections to Congress -- let's hope Rendell's interest in contribution limits stirs enthusiasm for a more comprehensive solution: Clean Elections-style public financing.