{news} AP story on Cam Finance- Opting out means MORE money from one donor

Thu Dec 1 06:45:24 EST 2005

Those who opt out of the public funding would not be able to accept any money from lobbyists and contractors. To make up for the revenue loss, they would be able to raise more from individuals, political action committees and the state parties. Gubernatorial candidates, for example, could receive $3,500 from an individual - $1,000 more than they can accept today.

Legislature passes campaign finance reform bill 

By SUSAN HAIGH 
AP Political Writer

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- The state legislature approved what advocates billed as the most sweeping reforms of campaign finance laws in the country early Thursday, including restrictions on campaign contributions and a new publicly funded election system.

Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell promised to sign the bill into law.

But that doesn't mean the end to the campaign finance reform debate in Connecticut. After much discussion about loopholes in the legislation, lawmakers promised to return during the regular session in February to make further changes.

"Frankly, the stars are aligned with this legislation," said Rep. Christopher Caruso, D-Bridgeport, co-chairman of the Government Administration and Elections Committee. "It's our opportunity to take advantage of this moment, to pass this legislation, to build a foundation and then make changes."
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The changes take effect on Dec. 31, 2006, after the next gubernatorial and legislative races.

Both the Senate and the House debated the bill for about seven hours in separate sessions. The bill passed the Senate 27-8 and the House 82-65. The House vote came after several amendments were defeated.

Advocates of the legislation called it a model for the nation, banning contributions from lobbyists and state contractors, ending campaign advertisement booklets and creating a voluntary, public financing system that affects all state races. But many Republicans argued the bill would not reduce the influence of special interests.

"This bill before us ... does things that no other state in this union has done," said Sen. Donald DeFronzo, D-New Britain, co-chairman of the Government Administration and Elections Committee.

Rell called the bill "truly historic" and said she was looking forward to signing it. She had been pushing lawmakers to pass a bill after they failed to reach a deal during the regular legislative session earlier this year.

"The people of Connecticut want these reforms. They want to remove the corrosive, corrupting influence of special interest money in our elections, and we can finally reward them with this landmark legislation," Rell said.

Nick Nyhart, executive director of Public Campaign, a national organization that supports public financing and campaign reform, said the Connecticut legislation could have a national ripple effect.

"For the first time, a legislature has gone ahead and done this, not just for other seats but also done it for themselves," he said, calling the bill "the strongest piece of reform legislation in the country."

Maine and Arizona have public financing systems created by ballot initiatives. Other states have created public financing for just a handful of positions, such as the governor and lieutenant governor in Vermont and top judges in North Carolina.

Connecticut's legislation comes in the wake of a corruption scandal last year that sent former Gov. John G. Rowland to prison and led his former co-chief of staff and a major state contractor to plead guilty in federal court. Rell was lieutenant governor during Rowland's tenure.

But many Republican legislators claimed the legislation was a sham and could lead to even more special interest influence on Connecticut's elections. They pointed to provisions that allow legislative leaders, state parties and unions to foot the bill for candidates' in-kind services, including polling and consultants.

Others claimed the public financing system can be manipulated by candidates, and the money would be doled out with few restrictions. Many Republicans are particularly angry about using public funds to pay for political campaigns.

Even some Democrats criticized the bill. Sen. Andrew McDonald, D-Stamford, who voted for it, said the legislation stifled free speech rights of lobbyists and predicted a court challenge. And in the House, a Democrat-proposed amendment that would have stripped the public financing provision died on a 79-66 vote.

Rep. Paul Doyle, D-Wethersfield, who proposed the bill, said he came to realize that the money would be better spent on education and other programs.

The bill calls for funding the new system each year with approximately $17 million worth of unclaimed property such as forgotten pay checks and bank accounts that now automatically flows into the state's general fund.

"I think our forefathers would turn in their graves if they knew public funds were used this way," said Rep. Julia Wasserman, R-Newtown.

Participating candidates must agree to campaign spending limits and must raise a certain amount of money, in small donations, to qualify for public funds for their campaigns.

For example, a gubernatorial candidate opposed by a major party candidate without a primary would be limited to spending $3.25 million. Of that, the candidate would have to raise $250,000, with individual donations totaling no more than $100, to qualify. The state would then kick in $3 million.

In the last gubernatorial race in 2002, Rowland raised more than $5 million and his Democratic opponent, Bill Curry, collected about $1.5 million.

Those who opt out of the public funding would not be able to accept any money from lobbyists and contractors. To make up for the revenue loss, they would be able to raise more from individuals, political action committees and the state parties. Gubernatorial candidates, for example, could receive $3,500 from an individual - $1,000 more than they can accept today.

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      THE GREEN PARTY OF CONNECTICUT is the third largest political party in CT. The Greens are also the third largest political party in the US, with 220 Greens officeholders in 27 states. Over 80 countries in world have Green Parties. Wangari Maathai, the 2004 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, is Kenya's assistant minister for environment and an elected Green Party member.
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National Committee member from Connecticut: Tim McKee (860) 324-1684

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