The Winston-Salem Journal is encouraged by the prospects for the expanded public financing program for North Carolina elections, which covers candidates for the Appellate and Supreme Courts and now candidates for three of the Council of State positions (the Governor's cabinet). Six of the eleven candidates for these three positions this year intend to run with public financing.

Support for full public financing of elections graced a few editorial pages over the weekend with the Des Moines Register and the Syracuse Post-Standard both running letters to the editor in support of state and federal level Clean Elections-style proposals. Thanks to Susan West and G.T. Gerrard, respectively, for submitting those letters!

The Portland Mercury News today profiles a candidate for a city council seat who was among the more vocal proponents of the city's Voter Owned Elections public financing program.  Chris Smith is a transportation activist who's looking to translate his policy knowledge into public support. Will the Voter-Owned Elections program help Smith and other others like him enter the fray for elected office?

Tomorrow, the North Carolina House of Representatives will vote on HB 1517, the Voter Owned Elections pilot project for Council of State Races. If you're from North Carolina, call your representative at (919) 733-4111.

The fight for Clean Elections in Iowa is in full swing with about two weeks to go in this legislative session. What follows is an interview with Adam Mason of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. He is one the lead organizers of this campaign. Adam gives us insight to the many aspects of the campaign and tells us why Clean Elections is so important for Iowa.

The Raleigh News and Observer profiles the latest report (pdf) by Democracy North Carolina on the nearly $15 million in fees paid to lobbyists in 2005 -- that's a lot of influence bought and sold at the Capitol building, and a good example of the perfectly legal but questionable activity that happens in a pay-to-play political system. Luckily Democracy North Carolina is on the case, pushing to curb the influence of money in politics by creating full public financing of campaigns.