Laura Kelley of Rice University is founding a campus chapter of Democracy Matters to push for Clean Elections in the face of a campaign finance system that tilts the balance of power in favor of a wealthy few. She explains her support for full public financing of elections in this opinion piece for the student newspaper, the Rice Thresher (hehe).

Kelley recaps an article in the Houston Chronicle that analyzed big campaign contributions coming out of Texas:

 

It started in 1978 when Texas oilmen devised a plan to spread their influence to Washington and push for deregulating the gas industry. However, do not get the idea that this is a partisan or a corporate issue. Money is pouring out of Texas at a lopsided ratio, with $30 million this past year going to conservative and liberal legislators and executives. Why? Because it works.

Fortunately, there's a solution that works as well. Clean Elections has been passed into law in seven states, and two cities and a bill to bring it to the U.S. Senate has been introduced. Democracy Matters works to organize students and young people behind the advancement of Clean Elections laws -- if you are interested in opening a chapter on your campus find out more here.