Five Democratic State Senators in Idaho have introduced SB 1040, which provides for public funding of candidates for state office. The bill does not discriminate for or against any candidate on the basis of the candidate’s partisan affiliation or independent status. It requires candidates to receive $5 contributions from a certain number of voters, in order to qualify for public funding. Gubernatorial candidates would need 2,500 contributors. Candidates for other statewide office would need 1,500 contributors. Candidates for the legislature would need 150 contributors, all of whom must live in the district.

Public funding would be financed largely from traffic and criminal fines, an idea pioneered by Arizona. If the bill passed this session, it would take effect in 2014. The Idaho Senate has 35 members, and only seven of them are Democrats. No Republican State Senator is a co-sponsor of this bill, so far at least.