[SmithL]

if a privately funded candidate raises more money than the limit, Arizona matches those excess contributions, dollar for dollar, for the publicly funded opponent.

From Each, according to his abilities
To Each, according to his needs.

[P-40]

which would provide $200 million a year for public financing of California candidates

And all of that money would go towards the candidates saying exactly nothing at all but spending a lot of money in the process. Let the candidates make the *free* talk show circuit and other *free* forums first before they come asking for money.

[Wombat101]

""On the whole, it has opened up the political process to a new pool of candidates,''

Translation: We can't have this happening! Who's bright idea was it to open up the political process to anyone BUT professional politicians, anyway?

"But we need to look and see where it can be improved.''

Translation: We need to return to the old system of networked, entranched, professional pols with access to a mailing and call list of wealthy patrons, who by virtue of their ability to collect funds and sell their souls, wiull be unassailable by the hoi polloi while in office.