Malloy Vetoes Campaign Finance Reform Bill

Gov. Malloy said he found some portions of the bill would likely violate the federal constitution, while other parts "represent poor public policy choices."

Gov. Dannel Malloy has vetoed a bill that would have required corporations and other groups that independently spend money or run ads for political candidates to identify their top donors.

The bill was partly a response to the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizen United ruling in 2010, which changed restrictions on campaign spending.

In a veto message released on Friday, Malloy said he found some portions of the bill would likely violate the federal constitution, while other parts "represent poor public policy choices."

While Malloy said he opposes the federal ruling, he believes the bill would "have a chilling effect on issue advocacy and neutral debates about matters of public concern."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut and the Connecticut Business & Industry Association said they support the veto.

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill said in a statement that the bill had positive and negative elements.

It was a “good faith effort to respond strongly to court decisions like Citizens United that have allowed an avalanche of private special interest money into our election system,” she said, but a section on electronically submitted ballots caused concern because it is not secure.

“Therefore, I urge our Governor and General Assembly to work out a compromise on improvements to our Citizens Election Program and our response to Citizens United, and to do it soon. Our voters need to know if money or the public good drives our political system,” Merrill said.

Common Cause, a pro-reform organization, however, said Malloy has "squandered an opportunity to pass the strongest disclosure bill in the country."

   


 

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