Michael Bersin at Show Me Progress, a blog focused on Missouri politics, writes about the point/counterpoint of recent bills introduced in the Missouri Senate. One, introduced by Sen. Jeff Smith, would bring Clean Elections public financing of campaigns to Missouri. Another, introduced by the Senate Majority Leader, would do away with campaign contribution limits.

Bersin is familiar with the Arizona Clean Elections system which produced the only Clean Elections-elected Governor, Janet Napolitano. Participation among candidates in the program has grown in Arizona, as it has in Maine, since the laws were passed there in 1996 and 1998, respectively.

Missouri defeated a Clean Elections initiative in 2000 - it's good to see the idea back on the table, particularly now that we can point to the success of Clean Elections in other states, and the worsening problem of private money in elections, as reason to pursue it.