Campaign Finance Reform: Action in Connecticut

Republican governor Jodi Rell of Connecticut yesterday announced publicly that she will drop her opposition to a Democratic proposal that would allow public financing of state political campaigns, provided that Democrats support other proposals Rell has previously backed: "the elimination of contributions from state contractors and lobbyists and the restriction of political action committees to one per caucus in the House and Senate," according to Connecticut newspapers (tip to PoliticalWire).

New London's The Day called Rell's action "an about-face that startled and thrilled advocates of electoral reform." The governor's "surprise call for the public financing of campaigns set the state Capitol abuzz Thursday morning. By nightfall, it was riding a bandwagon," the Hartford Courant reports; Republicans in the state senate said by the afternoon that they would unanimously support the plan, a step the Courant calls "a gesture as startling as Rell's proposal."

Negotiations between Republicans and Democrats in the legislature over the shape and scope of reforms had been faltering in recent weeks, but The Day writes that Rell's "offer seemed to instantly reinvigorate" negotiators. Said Rell when she announced her proposal, "I figured if we were going to break this gridlock, let's get a little bit bold here and see if we really mean business. So what I said was, I will support public financing of campaigns if you take my initiatives and truly, truly mean it."

Proponents of campaign finance reform from Connecticut and across the nation responded happily to Rell's statement: The Day notes "Reform advocates were almost giddy." Common Cause's Andy Sauer told the Courant "I feel like I've gone through the looking glass. I'm expecting to see a white rabbit running through here, late for an important date. It's so bewildering." Jeffrey Garfield of the Elections Enforcement Commission said "This is huge. If they pass this kind of a comprehensive reform bill, Connecticut would have the toughest campaign finance laws in the country."

Senator John McCain also responded favorably to Rell's proposal. In a statement he praised Rell's "commitment to reform," "saying the two parties' proposals were sides of the same coin." "You simply can't have one without the other. Partnered, these reforms will make major progress toward cleaning up elections and ethics in the state," McCain added. "As the legislative session comes to a close, time is of the essence. Connecticut's elected officials have a unique opportunity to create an atmosphere of ethical government that is focused on what is best for the people's interests, not the special interests."

I agree with Rell, and with McCain. This is an excellent step forward, and I hope that all sides will be able to reach agreement on a comprehensive reform package before the session ends.