CCP has this interesting post on public financing in California.

Some members of the California legislature are apparently a little hard of hearing.

The California Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing today on A.B. 583, which seeks to establish a government-financed election program for the 2014 Secretary of State race.  A.B. 583 amends the Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure.  The portions of A.B. 583 that amends the Political Reform Act of 1974 must also be approved by the voters at the June 8, 2010 statewide primary to take effect.

But just two years ago California voters declared loud and clear that they did not want government-financed elections.  Nearly 75 percent of voters rejected Proposition 89 which sought to establish a government-financed election system.