The Clean Elections Law was a citizen's initiative that was passed by a two to one margin in 1998. According to David Donnelly, director of the Massachusetts Voters for Clean Elections, the legislature has refused to release the funds that were set aside to support the law. The state's Supreme Court found the legislature in violation of the state constitution and has allowed the Mass Voters to sell off state assets. Donnelly tells GlobeSt.com that the state has $23 million in the fund set aside for the law and $10 million will be required by this fall for candidates who qualify. The money is given to candidates who agree to raise funds through small donations and to spending limits.

According to the auctioneer's website, the properties up for sale are: 30 acres on Route 190 in Sterling; 31 acres on Route 146 in Sutton; 28 acres on Route 107 in Saugus; 32 acres on Routes 24 and 495 in Raynham; and, 18 acres on Route 6 and 132 in Barnstable. Donnelly adds that there are also two acres on Route 2 in Concord that are up for sale.

Donnelly acknowledges that the selling of state land could harm those communities where the land is located and points out that the judge in his decision wrote that "this one will inflict needless damage on the Commonwealth. Land is sold to the highest bidder," says Donnelly. ""People can do whatever they want with the land and it can undermine some community's interests. We're in a difficult position but we can't allow the legislature to get away with it. Some communities will be harmed."

Donnelly notes that his group is trying to minimize the damage by selecting properties that don't hurt public interests. He says that for instance a state-owned site in Lowell is currently used as a public park. "It's state land in the middle of the city," he says. "There would be an uproar."

The state has challenged some of the group's efforts to sell of its assets but has not challenged this ruling yet. "If we decide to seize the statehouse they might," he says.