If nothing else, this year's budget fiasco has created an outcry for governance reform. But rather than look to electoral gimmicks, we should instead support proven systems that work, like public financing of elections and ranked choice voting.

"We applaud the Governor for signing this landmark Fair Elections bill," said Richard Holober, CFC's Executive Director. "Consumers are the losers when big money donors dominate our elections. The Secretary of State's office is the ideal public financing pilot project..."

AB 583 would establish a pilot project for voluntary full public financing system for Secretary of State candidates in 2014 and 2018. It is modeled after the “Clean Money” systems that have been working in Arizona and Maine for eight years and recently adopted by Connecticut and other localities.

The Secretary of State is an ideal test for public financing due to its low cost, as well as the fact that for voters, it is important that there is no possible appearance that private campaign contributions could influence the elected official responsible for the integrity of elections.

Software giant Intuit just gave us a textbook case of pay to play politics at its worst. When the State Franchise Tax Board offered taxpayers a free on-line tax preparation program, it ran afoul of Intuit...

Have all your questions answered as to why Proposition 89 can finally end the corrosive influence of big business on our electoral system.

Prop. 89 is modeled after successful laws now in place in Arizona, Maine, and other jurisdictions where it has produced more competitive elections, increased voter turnout, reduced the influence of lobbyists and deep pocket donors in politics, and enabled a more diverse cross section of people to run for office and win.

On June 2, 2005, Republicans teamed up with Business Democrats in the State Assembly to defeat legislation that would have protected millions of Californians from exposure to poisonous toxics and defective products.

Schwarzenegger's novel scheme was designed to hide his campaign donors from public scrutiny until after Election Day. The judge noted that Schwarzenegger's loan would legitimize a form of 'money laundering.

In July, Juan Vargas, Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee, accused Senator Speier of vote trading on SB 1, the financial privacy bill, then proceeded to vote No on SB 1, killing the bill. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Vargas took $135,600 from financial industry opponents to SB 1 in the last election cycle.