MPR’s Michael Khoo reports that Governor Jesse Ventura has announced a package of campaign finance reforms he says will level the playing field for all candidates in future elections. A tri-partisan group of lawmakers joined the governor to support his initiative, although some of them say even deeper reforms are necessary.

Ventura says last year’s campaigns revealed an unprecedented surge in political spending, particularly in independent expenditures made by political parties and outside interest groups. Ventura says the most expensive state legislative race in 2000’ attracted more than $300,000 in unregulated spending, roughly six times the combined total the race's two candidates could spend under voluntary limits.