Stamford, Conn., -- U.S. District Court Judge Stefan Underhill made clear in a ruling issued late Friday afternoon that supplemental or “topping-up” grants under the Citizens’ Election Program (“CEP”) are unconstitutional. Although a legal technicality prevented the judge from halting the State Elections Enforcement Commission from dispersing these funds to Lt. Governor Mike Fedele’s campaign, it is clear that what should happen is the SEEC and Fedele should comply with the spirit of the law and return the money to the taxpayers.
“From the start, many Republicans have opposed the use of taxpayer money to fund Connecticut political campaigns. Now, in multiple rulings, parts of the new financing scheme have been declared unconstitutional and still Mike Fedele and the SEEC insist on dipping into more than $1 million of taxpayer money as if it is theirs alone to spend,” Tom Foley for Governor Campaign Manager Justin Clark said.
“As a candidate for governor, and as a public agency with a fiduciary responsibility to manage state resources, both Lt. Governor Fedele and the SEEC should immediately halt plans to give an additional $300,000 to the Fedele campaign, and Fedele should immediately return the nearly $1 million supplemental grant he received last week. It is the only right thing to do in this case.
The implications of this week’s federal court rulings are clear to everyone. Future campaigns will not be eligible for supplemental grants based on the spending of other candidates. Mike Fedele, as someone who wants to be governor, should not be using state resources to pay for his campaign, particularly in light of the latest rulings and when the state is facing a deficit of as much as $3.5 billion. To accept this money on the heels of this ruling would be an outrage against the hard working taxpayers of Connecticut. Mike, give back the unconstitutional money.”
The Fedele campaign continues to call the Foley court challenge to the public campaign finance law “frivolous.” The Second Circuit Court of Appeals and Judge Underhill disagree. The law has been declared unconstitutional and the Fedele campaign and the SEEC are deliberately trying to squander more than $1.3 million that belong to Connecticut taxpayers to keep Fedele’s campaign and this flawed system alive.
No comments:
Post a Comment