December 01, 2005

Connecticut Legislature Passes Campaign Finance Reform Package

"The General Assembly approved the nation's most sweeping campaign finance reforms early today, transforming Connecticut into a political laboratory.

The House voted 82-65 to give final approval at 2:44 a.m. and sent the bill to Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who set aside minor reservations about the Democratic measure and promised to sign it into law.

"This legislation makes Connecticut a national leader on campaign finance reform," said Rell, who called for limits on so-called special interest money in January. "It can't happen soon enough."

The legislation bans contributions by lobbyists, their spouses, and state contractors, limits political action committees, closes a loophole that permits corporate donations and creates a voluntary system of public financing.

By overhauling campaign laws crafted 30 years ago after the Watergate scandal, the bill upends long-established relationships between power and money, though few would predict precisely what might rise in their place.

"It's an exciting experiment, and we'll learn as we go," said Senate President Pro Tem Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn. "What's most important, we're bringing the process back to the grass roots. And we're freeing elected officials from the pursuit of special interest money."

The story is here.

Posted by Randy Riddle at December 1, 2005 07:09 AM