That's two letters this week in Indiana in support of Clean Elections! Julie Vaughn of Common Cause Indiana, in her letter to the Indianapolis Star wants Indiana to look at its lax campaign finance laws and embrace public financing at both the state and national levels. Her full letter after the jump.Public funding system can clean up campaign financeIf one ever doubted that campaign contributions come with strings attached, consider the comments of one political veteran after Mayor-elect Greg Ballard's upset victory. Since most political fat cats declined to invest in Ballard's underdog effort, this expert says the new mayor "doesn't owe anybody anything." He continues to point out how the system works when he suggests that Ballard hold an "amnesty ball" so that law firms, business owners and lobbyists can play catch up with the campaign cash and get on the new mayor's good side -- and presumably on the list of favored contractors. Indiana's campaign finance laws have created a system of legalized bribery that turns voters off, as evidenced by lackluster voter turnout, despite an angry electorate. It is time for real reform. The good news is that several organizations in Indiana are working to create a fairer system that will free candidates from the money chase and ensure voters that elected officials stay focused on the needs of voters, not big donors.That system is "Clean Elections," a voluntary system of public funding for political campaigns. Several states have enacted this new approach, including Maine and Arizona.A bill in the U.S. Senate, the Fair Elections Now Act, would create a Clean Elections system for congressional candidates. Common Cause/Indiana and other members of the Indiana Clean Elections coalition urge Sens. Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh to go on record in support of this important legislation.For more information about Clean Elections and how you can get involved, www.indianacleanelections.org or www.commoncause.org.Julia VaughnPolicy Director, Common Cause/Indiana