The Baltimore Sun covers three bits of pending legislation before the Maryland General Assembly, the second of which is the Clean Elections bill that would give legislative candidates the opportunity to run for office with public financing. In particular the paper notes the potential for a public financing program to address low levels of voter participation in the African-American community.

Elections financed in the traditional manner rely heavily on big donations from corporate interests and wealthy individuals -- a recipe for low participation in communities of color:

 

A survey by Progressive Maryland found that people living in predominantly black communities give about 5 1/2 times less in political donations than state residents in general. In other words, they have little clout in the corridors of power. By diminishing the need for such donations, public financing would help address a glaring inequity.


If, as many believe, the likelihood of public financing being approved this year turns on the Senate's actions, Baltimore will find a familiar face in the middle of the debate - Sen. Joan Carter Conway, chairwoman of the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee.

Senator Conway was a strong advocate for public financing last year. This year she's been less aggressive in her support -- all you Maryland voters who'd like to urge her to show strong leadership on this issue as she did last year and pass the public financing bill out of her committee should give her office a call at 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3145.