{news} Associated Press story on Campaign Reforms Challenged-Wentout on AP wire

[Charlie Pillsbury]

The AP story was also in today's New Haven Register.

     
            07/07/2006 
            Group seeks to block election finance law  
            Associated Press  

            -HARTFORD - A group including third-party candidates, lobbyists and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit Thursday seeking to block Connecticut's new campaign-financing system. 
            The law, which Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed Dec. 7, includes a voluntary public-financing system for campaigns beginning with the 2008 election cycle.

                 
            It also bans campaign contributions from lobbyists, state contractors and their families in an effort to eliminate incentives for corruption and contract steering.

            The bans apply to employees who spend as little as 10 percent of their time lobbying the General Assembly, and would even include a worker at a child-care center who manages a contract that is even partly funded by the state, said Renee Redman, the legal director of the ACLU's Connecticut chapter.

            "These limitations severely impinge the freedoms of speech and association, and we know of no justification for such severe limitations," she said.

            Lobbyist Betty Gallo, a plaintiff, said that under the law she won't even be able to answer questions about lawmakers from friends who are considering making campaign donations.

            "I can no longer serve as a campaign manager for a state race. I cannot even give a $25 contribution to a friend running for office," she said. "I do not think prohibiting these activities makes the political process better or somehow takes corruption out of government. It does violate my rights."

            The plaintiffs also argue that the new public-financing system unfairly benefits major-party candidates.

            Candidates would qualify for public financing of $25,000 for a House race, $85,000 for a Senate contest and $3 million to seek the governor's office if they meet private fund-raising thresholds of $5,000 for a House campaign, $15,000 for a Senate race and $250,000 for governor.

            To obtain the same money given to Democrats and Republicans, minor-party and petitioning candidates must not only raise that money, but also collect signatures from eligible voters equal to 20 percent of the turnout in the most recent election for the office.

            Based on a turnout of more than 1 million voters statewide in 2002, a minor-party candidate for governor would have to collect more than 200,000 signatures to qualify for full funding.

            "The Connecticut legislators who drafted this law in the dead of night knew that they were creating a system that would perpetuate two classes of political parties that are separate and unequal," said S. Michael Derosa, a plaintiff in the lawsuit and the Green Party's candidate for secretary of the state. "Some of us in the Green Party call this the 'No Incumbent Left Behind system.'"

            Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said he will vigorously defend the law.

            Andy Sauer, executive director of Connecticut Common Cause, which fought for the legislation, said similar challenges to the federal presidential public financing program were rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court 30 years ago.

            "The legislature rightfully believed that public financing was critical to eliminating abuses in the present system, and these public policy goals are entitled to respect," he said. "Minor party candidates continue to have access to public funding if they meet the threshold established by the legislature." 


           
     

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: smderosa 
  To: 'smderosa' ; 'clifford thornton' ; 'ctgp-news' 
  Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 11:25 PM
  Subject: {news} Associated Press story on Campaign Reforms Challenged-Wentout on AP wire


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  ACLU Files Campaign Finance Lawsuit 



  By PAT EATON-ROBB
  The Associated Press

  July 6 2006, 2:41 PM EDT

  HARTFORD, Conn. -- A group including third-party candidates, lobbyists and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit today seeking to block Connecticut's new campaign financing system.

  The law, which Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed on Dec. 7, 2005, includes a voluntary public financing system for campaigns beginning with the 2008 election cycle.

  It also bans campaign contributions from lobbyists, state contractors and their families in an effort to eliminate incentives for corruption and contract steering.

  The bans apply to employees who spend as little as 10 percent of their time lobbying the General Assembly, and would even include a worker at a child-care center who manages a contract that is even partly funded by the state, said Renee Redman, the legal director of the ACLU's Connecticut chapter.

  "These limitations severely impinge the freedoms of speech and association, and we know of no justification for such severe limitations," she said.

  Lobbyist Betty Gallo, a plaintiff, said that under the law she won't even be able to answer questions about lawmakers from friends who are considering making campaign donations.

  "I can no longer serve as a campaign manager for a state race. I cannot even give a $25 contribution to a friend running for office," she said. "I do not think prohibiting these activities makes the political process better or somehow takes corruption out of government. It does violate my rights."

  The plaintiffs also argue that the new public financing system unfairly benefits major party candidates.

  Candidates would qualify for public financing of $25,000 for a House race, $85,000 for a Senate contest and $3 million to seek the governor's office if they meet private fundraising thresholds of $5,000 for a House campaign, $15,000 for a Senate race and $250,000 for governor.

  To obtain the same money given to Democrats and Republicans, minor-party and petitioning candidates must not only raise that money, but also collect signatures from eligible voters equal to 20 percent of the turnout in the most recent election for the office.

  Based on a turnout of more than 1 million voters statewide in 2002, a minor party candidate for governor would have to collect more than 200,000 signatures to qualify for full funding.

  "The Connecticut legislators who drafted this law in the dead of night knew that they were creating a system that would perpetuate two classes of political parties that are separate and unequal," said S. Michael Derosa, a plaintiff in the lawsuit and the Green Party's candidate for secretary of the state. "Some of us in the Green Party call this the 'No Incumbent Left Behind System."'

  Andy Sauer, executive director of Connecticut Common Cause, which fought for the legislation, said similar challenges to the federal presidential public financing program were rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court 30 years ago.

  Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said he will vigorously defend the law.

  "The legislature rightfully believed that public financing was critical to eliminating abuses in the present system, and these public policy goals are entitled to respect," he said. "Minor party candidates continue to have access to public funding if they meet the threshold established by the legislature." 
  Copyright 2006 Associated Press 
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