But the barriers to reform are formidable. Most elected officials are reluctant to change the rules of a game they've already mastered.
Political scientists warn against constitutional hurdles and unintended consequences.
Reform activists themselves often can't agree how to fix a system they all know is broken. And they must anticipate and adjust for political ingenuity that will exploit every loophole in the search for money and power. Laura Yeomans, of Ohio's Citizens Policy Center, is giving it her best shot. Yeomans and her colleagues are collaborating with professors at several of her state's top universities to help the Center understand the nitty-gritty of campaign finance, track the results of earlier reforms, and craft new recommendations for change. They're hoping that the collaboration can untangle the notorious intricacies of law and politics to come up with solutions that will really work for Ohio.