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.

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.

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.