Mary Cox in the Harvard Political Review contrasts the progress states have made in implementing Clean Elections with the relatively slow paces of things at the federal level -- although this year's introduction of bipartisan, bicameral legislation to bring full public financing to congressional campaigns does represent a huge step forward. Cox pays particular attention to the successful Clean Elections program in Maine, passed in 1996 and more popular among candidates than ever. Even as Maine is undertaking a review of the law to address some issues that have arisen in light of its immense popularity, a healthy majority of lawmakers agree it's miles ahead of the old system.Change on the federal level is always slow -- and a deliberative body like Congress wants proof that full public financing of elections has a favorable influence on policy, and that voters will support legislators who are in favor of it. Maine - along with Arizona, North Carolina and the other states lining up to try full public financing out - provides just that proof to spur a more serious , action-oriented, consideration of the merits of public financing in Congress.