Rallying to Save Connecticut's Citizens' Election Program
October 13, 2009
Recently, Judge Stefan R. Underhill, a U.S. District Court Judge in Bridgeport ruled several provisions of Connecticut's Citizen's Election program unconstitutional, completely ignoring years of legal precedent regarding public financing programs which have been consistently upheld by other federal courts and the Supreme Court as constitutional. This blow against fair elections comes at a particularly bad time, as the financial crisis in Connecticut has already tempted Governor Rell and the General Assembly to slash funds the Citizens' Election Program to help fill the gap in the budget deficit.
Common Cause in Connecticut has been acting with the help of members and coalition partners to urge leadership in the Connecticut House and Senate to enact a fix to the law in a Special Legislative Session in order to preserve and protect the program for the 2010 elections and beyond. Connecticut newspapers have recently chimed in and have amplified the rallying cry to protect and save the Citizens' Election Program in a series of editorials published around the state.
Read the articles here...- Read more...
Citizens' Election Program: A New Kind of Politics
Connecticut Common Cause interveiwed 12 candidates concerning their participation in the Citizens Election Program in the 2008 general election.
Connecticut demands special session
In a post-session survey of Connecticut voters, a poll commissioned Connecticut Common Cause and Connecticut Citizen Action Group found that 63 percent believe there should be a special session for campaign finance reform.
Release and report (PDF, 252K)
Public supports Clean Elections
Connecticut Common Cause and Connecticut Citizen Action Group commissioned a survey of Connecticut voters on their support for Clean Elections, also known as the public financing of political campaigns. The results are not suprising -- 78 percent of the state supports changes to address the problems of money in politics.
Stop the Raids on the Citizens Election Fund!
Join us in telling Governor Rell, your State Senator and Representative to stop the raids on the Citizens Election Fund. It is only with your participation and action that Connecticut Common Cause can continue to hold power accountable and ensure that our lawmakers do the right thing.
With your help, we will continue the fight to protect the Citizens Election Program and preserve a cleaner and more transparent state government.
Click here to take action today!
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