Just checked into Connecticut last night with my colleagues at Common Cause Connecticut, who are working hard with other coaliton partners like Public Campaign and Connecticut Citzen Action Group, to bring about publicly financed campaigns in this state. There is lot to do. I will be heading over the CCAG headquarters in a bit to help them phonebanking, flyering, whatever organzing activities they have planned to push for Clean Elections. As we have mentioned here before, this is a pivotal time in Hartford. Lot of activities in the State Capitol, as lawmakers are figuring out how to come up with a clean elections bill.
If you need any indication on how the state residents feel about the corruption, that has plagued Connecticut during last few years, here is a taste:
And, also check out this letter from Bruce Burchsted from Meriden, which appeared in the Hartford Courant today
Might campaign finance reform be un-American?
This country has enjoyed a rich history of political corruption from the beginning. Consider Alexander Hamilton, one of our founding fathers. His insider trading while he was Treasury secretary gave citizens of the time a great deal of amusement.
Fast-forward to former Gov. John Rowland. His contractor friends contributed to his cause for mere favors. Yet the resulting scandals have provided the public with enormous amounts of entertainment. The hot tub caper alone kept us rolling in the aisles for months.
It's possible that Rowland would not have erred so if he had campaigned with public financing. But what a loss we would have suffered without our daily scandal fix.
We entertainment-demanding Americans might not even be aware of governors, legislators, and prosecutors without the aid of public scandals to bring these things to our attention. The billions of dollars that corruption costs the taxpayers is a small price for this educational experience.
So, "Bah!" I say to campaign finance reform. For the entertainment and educational good of our citizens, keep those scandals coming. It's the American way - or is it?
So, yeah ... Connecticans are sick and tired of the rampant corruption in that state. It has become a sad joke. And publicly financed campaign legislation is once positive solution that can go a long way in cleaning up this corruption and make a dent in this kind of cynicism in the state. So, if you are in Connecticut, help us out today. Please do not let your lawmakers hem and haw again with Clean Elections. Don't let them finish this year without agreeing on Clean Elections.
Call them today so they can get this done. Even if their office says the legislator is in favor of Clean Elections, or that they voted for it during the regular session, do not let them pass the buck. It will take a compromise during the coming special session from all - Democrats and Republicans, the legislature and the governor - but it will only happen with your help.
