Connecticut eyes voter-owned elections?

Courtesy of Sirotablog, here's the story:

Gov. M. Jodi Rell's surprise call for the public financing of campaigns set the state Capitol abuzz Thursday morning. By nightfall, it was riding a bandwagon.

The Senate's Republican minority set aside its longstanding opposition to public financing, albeit grudgingly, and pledged unanimous support, a gesture as startling as Rell's proposal.

Initially wary, the leaders of House Democratic majority decided to embrace the Republican governor's turnabout as genuine and pledged to work with her.

"We are not dismissing this. We're saying the door's open," said House Majority Leader Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden. "Let's see what we can work out."

Rell, speaking publicly about her plan for the first time, challenged lawmakers of both parties to act boldly in the wake of the scandal that forced the resignation of Gov. John G. Rowland.

"This is real reform," Rell said. "If you accept it, we will make history here in Connecticut."

Significant obstacles remain to passage of what would be the most sweeping campaign finance reform in the nation, but the consensus Thursday was that Rell's gambit had revived and redefined the reform issue in the session's final days.

Underscoring the national significance of the governor's reversal, reform proponent U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and a national advocacy group each issued laudatory statements.

Sirota points out that now, while the stink of lobbying scandals surrounding DeLay and his cohort fills the air at the national level, is the opportune moment to push the issue at all levels.