Gov. Rell proposes complete public financing of campaigns

[NewJeffCT]

Let's see, stem cell research, civil unions... is she really a Republican?

Rell Offers Reform Package
Proposes Full Public Financing For Wide Range Of Candidates
June 2, 2005
By MARK PAZNIOKAS, Courant Staff Writer

Gov. M. Jodi Rell has made a dramatic offer to revive stalled campaign finance legislation, proposing full public financing of campaigns for offices ranging from the General Assembly to governor beginning in 2010.

With only days remaining in the legislative session, Rell's staff promised legislators that the governor would drop her opposition to public financing if lawmakers accept her call for strict limits on contributions from state contractors, lobbyists and political action committees.

Rell's proposal would give Connecticut the most sweeping system of publicly financed elections in the nation, but some lawmakers and advocates were more interested in why the governor would so dramatically change positions in the waning days of the session.

"What is the governor's in this? That's really the question," said House Speaker James A. Amann, D-Milford. "Is it political, or is it pure?"

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-campfin0602.artjun02,0,5329219.story?coll=hc-big-headlines-breaking

[Larkspur]

1. LTTE in The Day: Don't Applaud Rell For Campaign-reform Veto

Today's The Day
http://www.theday.com/eng/web/news/re.aspx?re=91321B6D-7AE6-4992-AAB7-5BA21C190540

The praise given to Gov. M. Jodi Rell on the failure of the 2005 session of the Connecticut General Assembly to produce a campaign finance-reform bill demonstrates he has no idea of the chain of events leading to that inaction (“Senate Democrats don't care about reform,” June 16).

The governor was not only culpable; her actions call into question whether she and the Republicans ever really wanted a bill that includes public financing. On April 1, Gov. Rell called the House and Senate campaign finance reform plans — both including public financing — “a sham.” On June 2, the governor did her first 180-degree reversal by fully endorsed public financing. The Republicans followed. On June 6, she proposed 2010 as the year that the public financing take full effect. On June 7, when it became clear the Senate would step up to the plate with a public-financing bill that would pass, the governor said she would veto the bill. When a reporter asked Gov. Rell how she felt about the Senate bill, which would not institute full public financing of campaigns until 2010, she said, “Why don't we just make it 2025? The bill is not acceptable. It is not real reform.”

She therefore based her veto on the fact the Senate bill used 2010 as the full effective date — the same date she herself proposed just a day before. It makes one question her true desire for public financing.

Patrick Scully
Wethersfield


Editor's note: The writer is the director of communications and media for the Senate Democrats in the Connecticut General Assembly.

[NewJeffCT]

2. while that may be true

the media gave the impression that Rell was walking on water with this...

[Liberalgirl788]

3. just do it !

If Rell and the Repukes are willing to pass taxpayer funded campaigns let's do it. Why wait for 2010? DO IT NOW!!!!!!!

[WhollyHeretic]

4. The whole thing is starting to look like a bunch of grandstanding

I really hope it goes through I don't think it looks to good right now. It would level the playing field and be to democratic for the head politicians to want to do.

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-campfin0623.artjun23,0,7754057.story?coll=hc-headlines-local