"We call it the ‘Freedom Bill.’ We think our legislators, or people who run for office, are so tied down by the need to get money that that becomes such an emphasis that they can’t focus on the issues and really listen to their constituents, the voters.

"We won’t seriously deal with the issues in West Virginia – whether those issues be energy, or taxes or otherwise – until we can free our legislators and ultimately our governor from having to be responsible more to the donors than the voters.

"We say that if we continue the way we are, that our freedoms are dampened, because corporations are paying for government.

"So the choice is, democracy or corporate America controlling our candidates here in West Virginia and across America. Those who are already in office have a huge unfair edge with the current system.

"(Under Clean Elections systems) more people who don’t have a lot of money are elected to office.

"That’s what we’re after – effectively expanding our democratic process in West Virginia."

– Rev. Dennis Sparks, executive director of the West Virginia Council of Churches, on enacting Clean Elections.