Late last week, the Connecticut Legislature passed campaign finance reform legislation that establishes a full "clean elections" public financing system for statewide and legislative races as well as a pilot municipal public financing system. It also closes loopholes in Connecticut's corporate campaign contribution ban. Governor M. Jodi Rell signed the bill on December 7.
The bill includes some provisions opposed by ConnPIRG. Notably, it raises contribution limits for most statewide and legislative races except for the House of Representatives which remains at $250. It is possible that during the 2006 session, the legislature could revisit this provision, as well as flaws allowing large in-kind contributions to public financed candidates from PACs controlled by party leaders and restrictions on the ability of independent and 3rd party candidates to qualify for public financing. Contact: Christopher Phelps, ConnPIRG, 860-233-7554, cphelps@connpirg.org, www.connpirg.org
