The New York Times this morning is running a strong and positive story about Connecticut’s Clean Elections program, spelling out its ability to level the playing field among candidates and reduce their need to constantly ask for money.The state this year became the third, after Maine and Arizona, to implement full public financing of statewide elections.

In the article “Connecticut Hopefuls Flock to Public Financing,” Peter Applebome reports:

Wow. We've been talking about this for months and knew that participation in Connecticut's first round of Clean Elections would be high, but seeing final numbers come out doesn't make it any less impressive.

Even as Connecticut's legislative candidates have the chance to run with Clean Elections public financing for the first time this year, the state legislature is still chewing over ethics and corruption questions. Now they are debating whether to prohibit registered lobbyists from serving on state boards and commissions.

This op-ed by Rep. Chris Murphy (D-CT) on brutal chase for campaign money that eats up his time as a legislator ties together many of the themes his colleagues have touched on about the harm such excessive fundraising causes and makes a strong argument in favor of full public financing of congressional campaigns.

James Sample of the Brennan Center applauds Connecticut for turning the corner with its new Clean Elections program, which received an early trial this week in a special election to succeed State Rep. Richard Beldon, who passed away earlier this year. The two candidates for Beldon's seat in the 113th district, Republican Jason Perillo and Democrat James Orazietti, ran under the new full public financing program.

Connecticut's Journal-Inquirer looks at the work ahead for Connecticut's State Elections Enforcement Commission as they move towards to the first cycle of state elections under the new full public financing system.

Tom Swan, the executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, a driving force behind Connecticut's public financing program for legislative and statewide office, writes in this op-ed about his organization's growing disenchantment with the mayor of Hartford, Connecticut and the hope for a municipal public financing program.

Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) is serving his first term in the House after narrowly beating incumbent Rob Simmons in last year's midterms. This profile in the Washington Post shows him adjusting to life on the Hill, learning the ins and outs of fighting for his constituents, and, of course fundraising. And more fundraising. And did we mention the fundraising?

Andy Sauer, executive director of Connecticut Common Cause and major player in the state's public financing victory last year asks in The Day whether this election season - with its $2.6 billion price tag and unprecendented barrage of negative attack ads - has convinced the people it's time for a change.

Sauer distills the real cost of the election to voters:

Public Campaign Action Fund's letter to Senator Joe Lieberman regarding his nondisclosure of petty cash:

October 30, 2006

The Hon. Joseph Lieberman

PO Box 231294

State House Square

Hartford, CT 06123

Dear Senator Lieberman,