The Answer to Big Money

One way to break the power of big campaign donors and political lobbyists is public funding of campaigns, which was used for two decades in Presidential elections, from 1976 to 1996. Now, states are where public funding is used. In Connecticut, home to a bold, model program, roughly 80% of candidates from both major parties running for Governor, statewide offices and state legislature currently use public funding. To qualify, candidates have to prove viable public support by raising at a good-sized quota of small donations from local voters. The program has transformed the political landscape. More minority candidates and women can afford to run for office - and often win. Fat-cat lobbyists have less power. The policy agenda has changed because the demographics of the legislature have changed: Lawmakers look, think and act more like average voters