Rep. Dubitsky Supports Campaign Finance Reform

HARTFORD – State Representative Doug Dubitsky (R-Chaplin) has voted to restore the integrity of the publicly financed Citizens’ Election Program (CEP).

First introduced by the Legislature in 2005 as a “clean elections” measure, the CEP was widely hailed as a major step in keeping excessive special interest money out of state elections. Shortly after it was enacted, however, the Democratic-controlled legislature inserted loopholes into the program, allowing virtually unlimited special interest money to flow again into campaigns.

The problem was especially noteworthy in the recent election cycle, as state contractors were allowed to donate large amounts of money to a federal campaign account that was subsequently funneled to state accounts used to fund the campaign for governor and other state offices.

The Republican proposal would close many of those loopholes and ban state contractors from using federal accounts to fund state races. It will also limit the money political parties can give to candidates for state office. The proposal would also limit the amount family members of CEP candidates could accept from any CEP candidate to prevent the types of conflicts of interest seen in recent election cycles.

“This law was originally passed to give Connecticut residents trust in the system under which we elect our representatives,” Rep. Dubitsky said. “But our clean election program has been hijacked to infuse virtually unlimited special interest money into the system. We need to repair the peoples’ trust in the Citizens’ Election Program. The measure we passed in the House this week will go a long way to restoring integrity to the way we fund elections in this state. ”

The Republican proposal, an amendment to House Bill 6749, passed the House with a 134-12 vote, and will now go to the Senate for a vote.