Campaign Finance Reform, Public Financing

Governor M. Jodi Rell of Connecticut surprised her Republican legislators and Democratic majority in the last week by proposing her own version of Campaign Finance Reform that would include public financing in return for inclusion of state House and Senate legislators in the plan.

 

Shocked Republicans fell into lockstep support with little murmuring.  Suspicious Democrats' reaction ranged from calling it a distraction to prevent progress on other issues in the last days, to a plan that must certainly benefit the GOP over Dems, to a plan that, if only they could move their colleagues position a little bit more toward the GOP, might be acceptable.

 

I believe it would be wrong for the legislature to pass a CFR bill that did not put restrictions on their own campaigns.

I believe that after "Pay to Play" seeped out of Rowland's executive chambers into the management of state agencies, reformers cannot go to far in keeping state contractor money out of campaigns, pac's and favorite charities too.  Better to make it difficult and visible to give money to candidate's interests than to make it impossible to do business with the State of Connecticut -- a la the Attorney General's "Affidavits" fiasco of early 2004.  Bills proposed this session may not be perfect, but they are an improvement over a political cycle driven by when during the legislative calendar lobbyists can and cannot "pay to play".

 

Contact your legislator and senator with your views on CFR and especially public financing.  Contact the Governor and thank her for engaging the Democrats in a productive interaction on this issue.  Contact CCAG, Common Cause and others asking how you can help.