A PBS producer and a writer have collaborated on a book, Your America that chronicles the work of accidental activists -- ordinary Americans who saw injustice and fought to fix it, creating successful grassroots movements for change in the process. One of the stories told is that of Jackie Thrasher a Clean Elections supporter in Arizona who went on to win a seat in the state House of Representatives.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has agreed to hear arguments on the so-called "millionaire's amendment" to the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act (BCRA, aka McCain-Feingold). The millionaire's amendment exempts candidates facing wealthy self-financing opponents from certain federal campaign contribution limits established in BCRA. This article in The Hill notes that the ruling could impact the Clean Elections laws in Arizona and Maine.

Rep Rick Renzi (R-AZ), has taken tens of thousands in campaign cash from ManTech, a defense contractor who's senior vice president is Renzi's father.  Renzi, for his part, has voted in favor of nine separate bills from which ManTech was set to profit.  Conflict of interest?  Nick Nyhart, our executive director, . . . . .