June 8, 2005

CANDELARIA HAILS HOUSE PASSAGE OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM BILL

State Representative Juan Candelaria (D-New Haven) is pleased to announce passage of groundbreaking campaign finance reform legislation from the state House of Representatives. The historic bill would ban lobbyist campaign contributions, limit Political Action Committees (PACS) and introduce public financing of statewide and legislative campaigns.

“I supported this legislation because it introduces comprehensive campaign finance reform aimed at derailing influences from outside sources. It would also assure the public that their needs, and not the needs of special interests, stay at the top of our priority list,” Rep. Candelaria said.

The bill would ban all state contractor contributions, and lobbyist contributions, starting January 1st 2006. The legislation does not allow for individual legislator PACS, but instead places limits of two PACS per legislative caucus.

The bill passed by the House would take effect in the 2008 election cycle for legislative candidates and 2010 for statewide candidates and would use funds from bottle escheats to publicly finance campaigns.

Governor Rell has already stated her support for the bill.

Representative Candelaria serves the 95th Assembly District of New Haven. He is Vice Chair of the Commerce Committee, and a member of the Appropriations and Judiciary Committees.