Our friends at Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement decided to find out what people in their state really think of full public financing of campaigns.  They put a poll out and the results were very encouraging  -- a full three-quarters of those surveyed expressed support.  Read more on the poll here.

The New Hampshire commission formed this summer to put together a proposal for full public financing of campaigns for the state has been working away and this article gives an update on where the proposal stands.  Right now they're focusing in getting data on the cost of campaigning so they can make recommendations on the amount of funding candidates receive, and where that funding should come from.

Citizen Action of New York has just released a new report on the campaign contributions flowing from the health insurance industry to members of the New York Senate, the Republican caucus in particular. The report concludes that this money is obstructing progress on regulating insurance rates and provides further evidence for the need to move to a Clean Elections model of full public financing for legislative elections.

I'm sorry to report that Alaska's Clean Elections ballot initiative did not pass yesterday -- in fact, on the primary ballot where both Sen. Ted Stevens (R) and Rep. Don Young (R) faced primary challenges none of the ballot initiatives got much love. But as they say, Rome wasn't built in a day. This is only the beginning of Alaska's fight for Clean Elections.

As Sen. Ted Stevens' (R-AK) trial date approaches the details of the case against him are slowly coming to light. He is alleged to have accepted gifts and services from VECO Corp. (like the expensive remodel of his home) in exchange for doing official favors for the company, then concealed the extent of those gifts. Stevens is set to stand trial in late September.

A week from Tuesday voters in Alaska get a chance to vote on whether they want Clean Elections in their state. Appearing on the ballot as Measure 3, the Clean Elections Initiative would provide a full public financing option for candidates running for state office. Papers in the state have been alive with the sound of debate over the initiative right alongside coverage of Alaska's growing list of legislators under investigation, awaiting trial, or imprisoned.