On March 20, the Maine legislature gave final approval to LD 1774, which amends the state’s program for public funding of campaigns for state office. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that public funding programs can’t give extra public funding to certain kinds of candidates. The bill conforms the Maine program to that decision.

Supporters of the Maine program do not like the bill. Since the extra public funding is being abolished, supporters of Public Funding wanted to increase the amount that eligible candidates receive when they first qualify, but the bill does not do that. See this story.

According to Green Party Watch, Roseanne Barr will make her first campaign appearance at a Green Party event on March 23 in Los Angeles. See this story. The event will also Marcy Winograd, a prominent Los Angeles political activist who recently switched her registration from “Democratic” to “Green”, and three Green Party members who are running for Congress.

Michael Eisner, chief executive of the Walt Disney Corporation between 1984 and 2005, has this op-ed in the Los Angeles Times of March 21. Eisner argues that Americans Elect is worthy of support. Thanks to Bill Van Allen for the link.