Minnesota politics is pretty clean. And it's designed to stay that way. Two things that create an environment for clean elections: 1) partial public financing, 2) low spending limits for state races.

In talking to credible candidates for state races, money is rarely their number one issue. Why is that? If you were running for State House your spending limit is right around $30,000. Now that may sound like a lot, but crunching numbers a bit it turns out that you only have to raise $50 from 600 people. Many people will donate beyond that so the number whittles down. And there is a decent sized check from the state that whittles it down even further. Why do I say $50? Because that is the amount any Minnesotan can direct toward a candidate and get it all back - "Donate for Free" [1] is what Mike Hatch for Governor describes it as.

So what does this combination of low spending limits and donate-for-free public financing do? Every candidate's #1 concern is then talking to voters! Buying slick ads on TV is not an option for most of the race - the last weeks is another story. Thus candidates are spending time talking to the people they will be representing at the capital, not the people with fat check books.

As much as people might find it annoying the system forces grassroots politics where each voters voice can have a profound effect: volunteers knocking on your door - maybe even the candidate, phone calls from campaigns when you're trying to eat supper, door-hangers on your door touting the ideal candidate.

Just look around the campaign finance board's website [2]. You'll find all the stuff that makes Minnesota a state where the government reflects the will of the people, more than the will of the wealthy.

Lobbyists are at the capital, but legislators know that lobbyists didn't buy their seats for them. In St. Paul, lobbyists are doing what they should be doing, sharing information, educating legislators on their positions. Not peddling power.