Try public financing

The recent scandal involving former state House speaker Jim Black shows once again how the need for big money to fund increasingly expensive political campaigns corrupts the political process. Although what Black did -- taking cash from special interest groups in return for inserting favorable provisions into legislation and recycling the money to the campaign war chests of key Democrats -- was illegal, the real scandal may be what remains legal. This is why North Carolina should consider a reform that has worked well in other states: public financing of statewide elections.

Under Arizona's voluntary clean-election system, for example, candidates who qualify by raising small contributions from registered voters in their districts are eligible to receive public financing. The results have been positive: Elected lawmakers face far less pressure to knuckle under to the demands of special interests, and a broader variety of citizens have been recruited into state politics.

Right here at home, North Carolina is the first state in the nation to put in place a voter-owned public financing program for judicial candidates. North Carolina lawmakers ought to consider adopting a similar public financing system for the state legislature.

Tom Geraghty

Carrboro