Maine is expecting a record number of state legislative candidates to seek office using the state's Clean Elections program this year, despite recent cuts in funding for the program. One of the principle concerns over the cut was that it would lead to decreased participation.  That doesn't look like it will happen, but will the record use -- estimated at 84 percent -- reinforce the popularity and utility of the system and convince the state to ensure it's continued financial health?

It looks like Maine's recent series of budget cuts is going to mean trimming back its Clean Elections programs a bit, decreasing the amount candidates are given to run their campaigns.  A concern from candidates considering running under Clean Elections has always been having enough funding to be competitive, so we'll be watching closely to see if the cuts effect participation rates.

Maine passed its Clean Elections law in 1996 and it has only grown more popular with each passing election cycle as it proves how well it works -- even when that means disciplining candidates who break the rules.  A House candidate in the 2006 election failed to return unspent Clean Elections funds.  The state has successfully pursued the former candidate and made arrangements to receive payments from her to cover the missing money.

Maine blazed the trail for full public financing of campaigns when it passed its Clean Elections law in 1996.  Now more than ten years down the line the program is still going strong, enjoying high participation and popularity among Maine's voters.  This article profiles one candidate who is running for a seat in the state House and is doing so under the Clean Elections program.  It's interesting to read through his candidate platform and imagine his proposing what he proposes while still having to fundraise in the traditional manner.

Our pleasure in reading USA Today’s editors’ piece on “Five Reasons for Public Financing,” quickly turned to alarm reading the accuracy-challenged “opposing view” by the Center for Competitive Politics' Bradley A. Smith.

We’ve sent our official letter to the editor, but that limited us to 250 words, which was not satisfying in the least. So herewith are our corrections of Smith’s exercise in fact distortion and twisted context.

Some Maine legislators are preparing to introduce a bill that would ban Clean Elections candidates from paying family members for campaign-related work with public funds. The Maine Ethics Commission voted against such a proposal, favoring a full disclosure provision instead. This bill is in reaction to gubernatorial candidate Barbara Merrill's decision in the 2006 election to pay her husband $109,000 for work he did on her campaign.