Godfrey Testifies Against Use of Altered Photos in Campaigns

DANBURY, CT — State Representative Bob Godfrey (D-110), testified before the Government Administration and Elections Committee Wednesday afternoon in support of legislation that seeks to require the disclosure of altered photos used in campaign literature, regardless of medium.

"In my long history of public service, there have been many changes, mostly for the better. But one change that angers me is the wide-spread and growing uncivil behavior in government and campaigns," said Godfrey in a release. "For many years, especially as I met with colleagues from other states, I was able to say that incivility was foreign to Connecticut’s legislature and our campaigns. But that, sadly, is no longer true; even here, politics has changed for the worse."

Godfrey introduced the bill in response to the use of altered photos during the 2018 election campaign season.

No other state has adopted legislation similar to Rep. Godfey’s proposal, but 17 states have statutes providing criminal or civil penalties for false advertising. New Hampshire currently has a proposal pending that would empower its legislative ethics committee to investigate complaints of false advertising, and Minnesota has introduced a bill that would make misrepresentation of a photo without consent and to cause harm a gross misdemeanor.

The 110th District covers Danbury.