After numerous failed attempts to push through public financing for all state elections, a new bill making its way through the Capitol would turn willing local governments into â??local laboratoriesâ? for taxpayer-funded elections.
At least thatâ??s how the billâ??s sponsor, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, refers to the counties, cities, towns or villages that could be among the first to contribute public money to candidatesâ?? coffers.
Included in this story: Ken Mayer, UW-Madison professor of political science and chair of Madison’s panel on clean elections