Rick Allen: “What we are doing in Maine is interesting and exciting. The 2002 elections will be the first where we have what we call…”

“What we are doing in Maine is interesting and exciting. The 2002 elections will be the first where we have what we call the Clean Elections. The bill has been upheld by the court. Candidates for the State legislature and candidates for Governor can opt, can choose, to be a Clean Elections candidate. If they get the requisite number of signatures and a certain number of $5 contributions, that is all, $5 contributions, they will qualify for public financing. I hope and pray that this system will be one way to reduce the influence of money in politics. I think it is a very interesting experiment, and I hope in time other States will follow Maine's lead.”