CA Clean Money Update

We all know it's going to be a long, hard slog to get a Clean Money Bill through the California Legislature along the lines of what's been implemented in Arizona, Maine and Connecticut. Heck, the CDP took a neutral position on the Clean Money initiative in 2006. And it got obliterated at the polls.

But nevertheless, things are moving forward. This week Assemblywoman Loni Hancock has re-introduced AB 583, essentially the same bill as the one which passed the Assembly last session. So far there are 4 co-sponsors. You can read all about the bill here. It's a public financing system for all statewide elections for candidates of all parties, provided they show a base of support with a set number of $5 contributions.

What I thought was interesting was this, from the CA Clean Money Campaign's email:

Also exciting is the news that State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) will be introducing a pilot project bill to set up a Clean Money system for the Insurance Commissioner.

Interesting that they would pick the Insurance Commissioner race, no? I mean, considering that the current officeholder contributed $13.5 million of his own money to win the job. A pilot program may be the way to test the system that will be needed to prove its viability.