High Noon Call On Campaign Reform by Christopher Healy

High Noon Call On Campaign Reform

By Christopher Healy

June 04, 2005

There is nothing that gets my Irish up more than public financing of campaigns. It is, as my mentor Obi Wan Foley has said, "welfare for politicians." It is un-Constitutional, favors the Democrats, gives the unions more juice through their underhand, in-kind phone banks and door-to-door muscle and moves Republicans closer to a permanent minority.

The idea that tax dollars, no matter what their source, are used to subsidize and facilitate political discourse at the ballot box - is a disgrace to the men and women buried in French cemeteries or those currently hunting Iraqi gunmen.

But, we Republicans have made our own bed here in Connecticut. We let John Rowland behave with impunity and grab whatever he could from people who were willing to pay. We let our state party become an unlimited ATM for him and his retinue of hangers' on and trimmers.

Rowland and his minions allowed certain lobbyists and contractors to come and go as they pleased in his second floor office, arranging trips, dispensing tickets and offering jobs and connections to those who could barely make change. Republicans are supposed to be the party that frowned on this sort of thing. Many of us, including yours truly were silent or feared retribution for our "disloyalty" for making a fuss. No matter.

And while Democrats filled their coolers with cash and Heineken, rolled over campaign surpluses from non-contested races into ongoing PACS and cemented their numbers in the Legislature, the Republicans were blamed for the "honest graft" ways of the Waterbury crew.

Now, Gov. M. Jodi Rell has stepped into this mess and shut the door on lobbyists. They had to get in line with the rest of the advocates. Both good and bad paid guns had to find other ways to skin the cat. Gov. Rell offered some far-reaching reforms, but the Democrats smirked and said: "nice try Snow White, we will get back to you."

Now, Gov. Rell has thrown down a marker. She has called them out into the bright sun - for a High Noon showdown. It's public finance for all state campaigns in exchange for all the goodies the Democrats have lived on for years - ad books, unlimited PACs that cross-pollinate and lobbyist's largess.

Senate Republicans is a rare show of total unity said they are with the Governor and added a few more reforms that make any changes imminent - in time for the 2006 elections - not 2010 - enough time for everyone to come to their senses.

Now the Democrats claim everything is political and the Governor is merely doubling down, hoping her opponents fold their hands.

About now, many Democratic legislators are assessing their options. Do they want to change, leave all that campaign money they use to spread around to their friends and family in races where they have no opponents? Do they want to run the risk of being audited for misappropriating tax-dollar campaign funds? Do they want to run now when a Republican opponent can opt-out? Do they want to be in the position of having to choose between more money for the public finance coffers or special education?

But, if the provisions that trigger $3 million in public scratch for every $250,000 in private donations raised are approved, I am running for Governor. Hey, even I can beat Bill Curry.