State lawmakers voted to change a provision in Connecticut’s campaign finance law to give themselves more time to decide how to fix the law if a federal appeals court judge decides it is unconstitutional.
Last fall, a judge for the U.S. District Court ruled that the law’s voluntary public financing provision would put minor-party candidates at an unconstitutional disadvantage against better-financing major party candidates. The state appealed the decision and is waiting for a response.
Under current law, lawmakers would only have seven days to act once a decision is made, or the state would revert back to old campaign finance laws. Prior to 2005, candidates were allowed to collect money from lobbyists, special-interest groups and state contractors.
Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell immediately signed the bill Wednesday.
To minimize the time crunch, both legislative chambers passed a bill this week that would give lawmakers a 30-day window before reverting to old laws if a decision comes down between April 15 and Aug 10, the day of this year’s primaries. After that time period, lawmakers would only have 15 days to act.
The bill would also allow candidates running for office to keep any money received through the citizens election program prior to any limitations or prohibitions taking effect.
Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted 137-12 in favor of the bill with little discussion. The Senate approved the changes 24-11 Wednesday, but its debate included failed amendments that would have eliminated the public financing part of the state’s campaign finance law.
“I believe in my heart of hearts that we need this money for other things,” said Sen. Edith Prague, D-Columbia, who voted against the bill.
Rep. James Spallone, D-Essex, co-chairman of the government administration and elections committee, called the bill reasonable and necessary. House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, agreed, but stressed that the bill does not fix the law.
“It’s just delaying the time bomb,” he said.
House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, said that lawmakers have not agreed on how to fix the law yet. Discussions are ongoing.
The technical changes allow lawmakers to wait for a court decision, said Senate President Pro Tem Donald Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn.
“It makes all the sense in the world to wait for that opinion and not take a shot in the dark,” he said.
The bill now heads to Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s desk.
“Governor Rell was disappointed that more was not done to save the integrity of the program, but she does support lawmakers’ intention to have more time to address the federal court’s decision– whatever that may be,” said Rell’s spokesman, Adam Liegeot.