David James of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner says that if you're feeling blue about the state of Alaska politics and government don't despair. There are few things voters can do to counter-act the wave of corruption including voting in favor the public financing initiative on August's ballot.

Phillip Munger of Progressive Alaska blogs on the kickoff of the campaign to win Clean Elections in Alaska.  In August, voters will have a chance to vote on a ballot initiative that would create a Clean Elections public financing program for state races, a much-needed antidote to the stories of corruption and influence-peddling consuming the state.  Between now and August the Clean Elections coalition in Alaska will be working overtime to educate Alaskans about what the initiative would mean for the state.

The Anchorage Daily News reports on the conflicting ballot initiatives Alaskans will be asked to vote on this year, and in 2010, that deal with corruption and campaign finance in the state. First up is the Clean Elections Initiative to publicly fund state elections, which will be on the ballot in August -- then in 2010 the "Anti-Corruption Initiative" might be on the ballot, and it would outlaw public financing of campaigns. Drama!

The Anchorage Daily News reminds Alaskans about the Clean Elections initiative on the August 26th ballot and strongly encourages them to vote yes, and pressure their legislators to support a Clean Elections program. The editorial lays out the particulars of the system, addresses the usual concerns, and says Clean Elections will "help inoculate Alaska against future political corruption."

Eric Ehst, the Executive Director of Arizona's Clean Elections Institute has this letter in SitNews refuting arguments against a potential Alaska Clean Elections law. He parses a lot of the statistics that get thrown around in the debate over Clean Elections, which is useful information for public financing supporters, especially Alaskans who will be campaigning for this through August.

Hurrah!  A Clean Elections initiative has officially qualified for placement on Alaska's August 26th primary ballot after the signatures gathered to place it there were verified. Alaska has been at the center of a mushrooming corruption scandal that has touched many members of the state legislature as well as members of Congress.  In that environment, Clean Elections look better and better.