Public Campaign blogs

Support in Alaska

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:27:07 -0500

Well this is good news out of Alaska. Thirty-six of 46 candidates who responded to a survey by the Alaska Public Interest Research Group support the Clean Elections ballot initiative that is set to be voted on in August. The survey was distributed to 133 candidates and most of the respondents were challengers. While more support from incumbents would be helpful, this survey shows word about the initiative is spreading and people familiar with the rigors of campaigning are receptive to the idea.

New Jersey Consequences

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:17:33 -0500

The Courier-Post weighs in on what the ramifications of the Supreme Court ruling on the Millionaire's Amendment might be for the New Jersey Clean Elections program. Sen Bill Baroni (R), a fervent backer of Clean Elections, criticizes the decision that "certainly does nothing to advance the cause of cleaning up politics." The 2007 cycle of the state's Clean Elections program was very successful -- a good counterweight to any arguments for it being significantly altered.

Profile of Arizona Sen. Meg Burton Cahill

Jiefei Yuan — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:09:04 -0500

A ceramic artist by training, Arizona Senator Meg Burton Cahill (D-AZ) has extended her crafting skills far beyond a college art studio to the hotbed of public-policy making in the Arizona state legislature. Her passion for community politics matured after she completed a Masters in Public Administration, and with the advent of the Clean Elections system in Arizona, she decided the time had finally come for her to run for office.

Rep. David Lujan, Profile in Clean Elections

Adam Smith — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:10:52 -0500

Rep. David Lujan (D-AZ) was always fascinated by the legislative process and worked behind the scenes for years. In 2002 he was elected to the Phoenix Union School Board which began his career as a public servant. In 2004, Lujan decided to run for the state legislature - and he decided to use the state's Clean Elections system to run.

Parsing the Supreme Court Decision

Katie Schlieper — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:02:42 -0500

Analysis is trickling in about the impact the Supreme Court's recent decision on the Millionaire's Amendment will have on the "rescue funds" provision of existing and future Clean Elections laws.

Praise and Potential

Katie Schlieper — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:31:28 -0500

Maimounah Masudi praises the Fayetteville Observer in this letter for their support of the efforts to win and expand the Voter Owned Elections public financing program in North Carolina which Masudi says "is crucial to the election process, because it is designed to allow the average citizen to be put on a level playing field with big money donors."

FEC Commissioners Confirmed

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:27:26 -0500

The Federal Election Commission is just about back in business following a months-long stalemate over the nomination of Hans von Spakovsky for one of the open seats on the Commission. Von Spakovsky later withdrew his name from the nomination process. With the confirmation of three Republicans and two Democrats by the Senate, the FEC will now have quorum to issue binding decisions.

Immunity for telecoms, not from money's influence

Adam Smith — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:48:27 -0500

On the recently passed FISA legislation, MapLight did the work for us and found that those who voted for the legislation granting retroactive immunity (and supported by the industry) have received nearly double the amount of money in campaign contributions from industry PACs than those who voted against.

Connecticut Uncontested Races Are Down

Rick Bielke — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:49:39 -0500

Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz told the Connecticut Post that the number of uncontested races has been reduced as compared to 2004.

Obama's Obligation

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:21:11 -0500

Public Campaign's Nick Nyhart writes in the Huffington Post today on Sen. Barack Obama's decision to opt out of the public financing system for the presidential election. Characterizing Obama's decision as "regrettable" but "understandable" Nyhart says that Obama has an even greater obligation to pursue an improved public financing system for the presidential race, and, though the Fair Elections Now Act, create one for Congress.