Debate over a committed funding source may slow efforts to win full public financing in West Virginia, despite rising campaign costs driven in large part by donations from special interests. It remains to be seen whether reformers will win out in the end, but I'd recommend reading this article if only for the words of lawmakers who like the Arizona and Maine system much better than the current private financing money chase.

Of particular note is this bit from one of the co-sponsors of the full public financing bill being debated, Sen. Dan Foster:

"It's an attempt to separate somewhat the connection of money from politics and in my view in what's happened in Maine, you've seen better public policy come about," said Foster.

 

Foster admitted he's a savvy fundraiser, as did most of the lawmakers interviewed. But he said it's a distraction from what elected officials should be doing during campaigns.

 

"As a candidate, what we'd like to do is spend time with the voters, with the citizens, finding out what their interests are rather than spending too much time raising money," Foster said.

We'll be keeping an eye on West Virginia to see if lawmakers can hammer out the funding details and win this reform.