Public Campaign President and CEO Nick Nyhart is testifying before the Maryland Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee today in support of SB 583, the bill that would allow candidates for the Maryland legislature to run using Clean Elections public financing for their campaigns. Nick's statement in advance of the hearing after the jump.From Nick, who will testifying alongside representatives from Progressive Maryland, the League of Women Voters, Common Cause Maryland, and the NAACP:"Candidates for the General Assembly are forced to spend more and more time raising money every election cycle. Under Clean Elections, candidates would spend their time talking with voters and none dialing for campaign dollars. "Thousands of dollars from electric utilities, developers, and other interests make their way into campaign coffers every year in order to gain access and influence with elected leaders. It's time to put voters on an even playing field as corporate executives and insider lobbyists."