Do you support public financing?

Is public financing a good thing?

Last year's elections marked the first year candidates for state office publicly-financed campaigns. They raise a little money from their constituents and then they receive thousands of dollars from the Citizens' Election Fund (ie; unclaimed property tax money). The 2005 campaign finance law also prevents lobbyists and state contractors from making campaign contributions.

The process supposedly allows the candidates to get to know their constituents better, because there is more face-to-face contact. Democrats say it has changed the way campaigns run and that it has changed the culture in Hartford.

Is any of this true?

Because of public financing, do you feel more connected to your state representative or senator? Is funding political campaigns the best way to spend the unclaimed property tax money that the state gets to keep -- even in good years?

With Republicans wanting to eliminate public financing and Democrats standing by it, now is the time to make your thoughts known. Afterall, everyone has been telling me that the best time for change is during a crisis.