Public Campaign - Clean Elections

Support in Alaska

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:27:07 -0500

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.

New Jersey Consequences

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:17:33 -0500

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.

Profile of Arizona Sen. Meg Burton Cahill

Jiefei Yuan — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:09:04 -0500

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.

Rep. David Lujan, Profile in Clean Elections

Adam Smith — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:10:52 -0500

Rep. David Lujan (D-AZ) was always fascinated by the legislative process and worked behind the scenes for years. In 2002 he was elected to the Phoenix Union School Board which began his career as a public servant. In 2004, Lujan decided to run for the state legislature - and he decided to use the state's Clean Elections system to run.

Parsing the Supreme Court Decision

Katie Schlieper — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:02:42 -0500

Analysis is trickling in about the impact the Supreme Court's recent decision on the Millionaire's Amendment will have on the "rescue funds" provision of existing and future Clean Elections laws.

Connecticut Uncontested Races Are Down

Rick Bielke — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:49:39 -0500

Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz told the Connecticut Post that the number of uncontested races has been reduced as compared to 2004.

Bring It Back to Mass

Katie Schlieper — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:14:04 -0500

Five years after the Massachusetts legislature killed the Clean Elections program voters had supported, Kathleen Grady and Paul Lachelier, two former state legislative candidates, write to the Patriot Ledger urging state lawmakers to take their lead from their neighbors in Connecticut and restore Clean Elections for state elections.

Views from All Over

Katie Schlieper — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:01:17 -0500

Papers in New Jersey and Alaska are rallying behind Clean Elections, and the Albany Times-Union runs an op-ed urging New York Governor David Patterson and the state legislature to advance public financing of elections. Is it my birthday?

Updates in Jersey

Katie Schlieper — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:47:27 -0500

The next round of Clean Elections in New Jersey is likely to be an expanded version of 2007's pilot program, an may include primaries, as well as equal funding for third party candidates. This would be the third cycle where Clean Elections funding is available for some legislative offices. The Courier Post has more.

Claiming Democracy and Reforming the Media

Adam Smith — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:04:15 -0500

"Does anybody want to talk about campaign finance reform?" That's just what Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) said at the opening ceremonies for the National Conference for Media Reform (NCRM) held this past weekend in Minneapolis by Free Press. The conference was preceded by Democracy Day, a one day event organized by FairVote. And we did just what Rep. Ellison asked.