In 1998 AZ voters passed (51.2% to 48.8%) the Clean Elections law, providing for public funding of elections to candidates who forego large private donations. This year Proposition 106 proposes to overturn that law. Supporters of 106 are gathering signatures to put it on the Nov. ballot. That effort just hit a big roadblock.
Judge Margaret Downie of the Maricopa County Superior Court said the initiative, as written, violates the provision of the state's constitution limiting amendments to a single subject. Apparently 106 proposes to ban the Citizens Clean Election Commission from giving public dollars to candidates but also takes away the commission's automatic funding of other activities, such as sponsoring debates. Her decision was immediately appealed to the state Supreme Court.
Interestingly, the major source of funding for Prop 106 comes from whom ? Well, you guessed it, business interests who are described by Clean Elections supporters as special interests that want to get influence in the legislature by deciding who gets campaign dollars.
In its first big test, two years ago Janet Napolitano (D, clean election candidate) beat Matt Salmon (R, private donations) for governor.