Common Cause, Allies Hail Withdrawal of Democratic Governors Association Lawsuit

Common Cause of Connecticut, the Connecticut Citizen Action Group and the League of Women Voters joined Friday in commending the Democratic Governors Association for withdrawing a lawsuit challenging Connecticut’s campaign finance laws.

“We’re delighted that the Democratic Governors Association has withdrawn this misplaced challenge to the strong coordination and disclosure provisions of Connecticut’s campaign finance laws,” said Cheri Quickmire, executive director of Common Cause in Connecticut.

“These laws were passed and implemented to protect Connecticut voters against the kind of behind-the-scenes coordination between candidates and ostensibly independent groups that is now the focus of an investigation in Wisconsin,” Quickmire added.

“LWVCT believes that the thoughtful decision of the U.S. District Court and the voluntary dismissal of the DGA lawsuit serve to uphold the public’s right to know in election contests and Connecticut’s valued campaign finance reforms,”  said Cheryl Dunson, Co-President of League of Women Voters in Connecticut.

“We’re very happy that the DGA is withdrawing its ill-advised lawsuit.  The remedies they sought would have legalized Karl Rove and Scott Walker’s illegal behavior in Connecticut and we are happy that Judge Hall upheld the right of Connecticut citizens  to live in a democracy instead of a corrupt auction house,” said Tom Swan, Executive Director of Connecticut Citizen Action Group.

The three reform groups joined with the Campaign Legal Center in filing amici briefs calling on the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut to reject the DGA’s challenge to Connecticut’s campaign finance restrictions. Patrick Tomasiewicz of Fazzano & Tomasiewicz, served as counsel of record in the filings.

 “We’re very grateful to the Campaign Legal Center for its great work in overcoming the DGA’s case,” Quickmire said.

DGA initially sought to bar the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) from treating Gov. Dannel Malloy’s fundraising activities on its behalf as part of a coordinated effort in support of Malloy’s campaign for a second term.

The association later tried to reinvent its case as a broad attack on state laws that apply to organizations working to elect or defeat candidates in Connecticut.

To read the notice of voluntary dismissal filed by the DGA, click here.

To read the supplemental amici brief filed by the Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause of Connecticut, Connecticut Citizen Action Group and the League of Women Voters of Connecticut (June 6, 2014), click here. 

To read the groups’ first amici brief (May 13, 2014), click here.