New Jersey adopts Public Campaign Finance
The New Jersey Senate voted 27 – 3 to renew the state’s Clean Elections pilot project for another year. The bill, which easily passed in the state Assembly, will next go to Governor John Corzine (D), who is expected to sign it when it reaches his desk.
Meanwhile Maryland lawmakers are close to voting on legislation that would bring Clean Elections to their state legislative races, and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Richard Durbin (D-IL) set to introduce a bipartisan Fair Elections bill in the Senate which would bring a Clean Elections-style system to Congress.
Under Clean Elections, candidates who collect a set number of small dollar qualifying contributions agree to strict spending limits, and refuse further private money, receive public funds to run a competitive campaign. Once in office, these Clean Elections elected officials will be accountable only to the voters who elected them — not big money campaign donors.
Public Campaign Action Fund
Democracy 21
It is nice to know that if you are disappointed by the excessive influence of special interests in government there is something you can do about it. I can’t think of another policy change that can have as much impact on promoting open minded pragmatic deliberation by those we elect. If we can figure out how to control third party spending on campaigns we may be close to getting the objective government we want and deserve.
