Gov. M. Jodi Rell has signed into law a bill that strengthens the landmark campaign finance reform legislation, enacted in 2005, by expanding the authority of the State Elections Enforcement Commission.
“This bill will secure Connecticut’s position as a national leader in campaign financing reform and will ensure that our historic campaign finance reform legislation works as envisioned,” Rell said in a statement. “In 2005, we took special interest money out of elections and put the elections where they should be – in the hands of our citizens.”
The 2005 legislation created the Citizens’ Election Program, a voluntary program that provides full public financing to qualified candidates for statewide offices and the General Assembly.
Administered by the non-partisan SEEC, the CEP was designed to encourage citizen participation and limit the role of private money in Connecticut’s political process. To participate in the CEP, candidates must agree to abide by contribution and expenditure limits and disclosure requirements.
