Granby Legislators Propose Election Funding Changes

State Sen. Kevin Witkos (R-8) and State Rep. Bill Simanski (R-62) are teaming up to propose new laws aimed as changing the way elections are funded in the state.

Last year the state expended $33 million on elections.

“When the state’s groundbreaking public campaign finance laws were first passed into law, citizens were promised that in exchange for public funds going to campaigns, we could count on a clean election system,” Witkos said in a statement. “That promise has fizzled and over the years as the majority party has chipped away at the laws, allowing more money into campaigns and more room for abuse of the system. It’s time to put our foot down and work together to clean up the system, restore accountability and promote transparency.”

“It is so unfortunate that the very laws that were enacted to create a more transparent and honest public campaign finance system has allowed for the dishonest acts of sidestepping and use of loopholes by the majority party as we saw in this last election cycle,” said Rep. Simanski, Assistant House Republican Leader. “I support reforms to these laws that will ensure the appropriate use of taxpayer dollars and safeguard the spirit and integrity of clean elections.”

Highlights from the proposal include:

1) Cap organizational expenditures by state parties

Currently, political parties can make unlimited organizational expenditures on behalf of participating candidates. Republicans are proposing the following limits:

· Candidate for Governor $250,000

· Candidate for Constitutional Officer $75,000

· Candidate for State Senate $10,000

· Candidate for House of Representatives $3,500

2) Reduce individual donor limits to state parties from $10,000 to $5,000

In 2013, individual donor limits to state parties was increased along with the amount state parties could make in organizational expenditures to a campaign. Republicans are proposing to roll back donation limits to previous levels.

3) Eliminate grants to unopposed candidates

Currently, candidates for state office (constitutional officers, senators, and representatives) are eligible for Citizens’ Election Program (CEP) grants even if they are unopposed. The amount of their grant equals 30% of a full-grant. Republicans are proposing to eliminate these grants.

4) Stop state contractors from donating to a federal account to fund a state race

The State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) needs to be able to enforce Connecticut’s current laws that prohibit contractors from donating to state races. Republicans are proposing legislation to help SEEC enforce this law.

5) Reduce all Citizens’ Election Program grants by 25%

By reducing CEP funds across the board, the state can save taxpayers approximately $7 million in gubernatorial election years and $2.4 million in Presidential years.

Current Grant Amounts

Proposed Grant Amounts

(25 % reduction)

Governor

Current: $6,500,400

Proposed: $4,875,300

Constitutional Officer

Current: $812,550

Proposed: $609,412

State Senator

Current: $94,690

Proposed: $71,017

State Representative

Current: $27,850

Proposed: $20,887