Steven Hill writes in The San Francisco Chronicle about growing voter disenfranchisement and apathy in California and what can be done about it. In doing so, he says efforts to win full public financing should be abandoned - pointing to the loss of Proposition 89, the Clean Elections ballot initiative, in 2006. But if most eligible adults aren't voting, can you point to an electoral loss as evidence against pursuing full public financing?

With just a week to go until Election Day the Yes on 89! team is taking a road trip to the campaign offices of some of the most corrupt politicians in California to stress the imporance of voting yes for Clean Elections in California.

You're familiar with that fast-paced muttering at the end of drug commercials listing off the side effects of whatever is being advertised, right?  Well, what if the ads being put out opposing Proposition 89, the Clean Elections initiative in California, got the same treatment?  Might look something like this. 

Two guest pieces today, one in the ContraCosta Times, the other in the Napa Valley Register urge voters to make sure Proposition 89, the Clean Elections initiative, does not get lost in the shuffle leading to election day. With a chance to amend the "the system of legalized bribery that has too long passed in this state for representative democracy," we can't afford to let this opportunity slip by.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has endorsed Proposition 89, the Clean Elections initiative on California's ballot.  Mayor Villaraigosa expressed his hope that Prop 89 could help restore faith in the electoral system, and allow more people to participate in politics.  He joins over 300 organizations and individuals in endorsing the initiative.

Got plans on Friday? This Friday, the 20th, the PBS weekly newsmagazine NOW is running an hour-long special episode called "Votes for Sale?", which will spotlight the Clean Elections movement as it took hold in Maine and Arizona as well as talk about campaigns to win Clean Elections across the country, particularly the current Proposition 89 campaign in California. Check out a preview here.