At the end of 2005, the Connecticut legislature passed “Clean Elections”, public funding for state elections. But the bill severely discriminated against candidates who are not Democrats and Republicans. Although all candidates need to raise a considerable amount of private donations to qualify for public funding, extra hurdles were placed on non-major party members. These included submitting petitions signed by 20% of the number of voters who voted for the office at the last election (for full funding, for independent candidates or new parties). Parties that had polled 10% at the last election were eligible for one-third of funding.

Now, bills have been introduced to ease the discrimination somewhat. SB 83 and HB 5572 would provide equal funding for parties that had polled 10% at the last election.

HB 5052 and HB 5610 would lower the petition, to either 5% of the number of registered voters (for full funding), 4% (for two-thirds funding) and 3% (for one-third funding). They would also lower the vote thresholds to 5% (for full funding), 4% (for two-thirds funding) and 3% (for one-third funding).

SB 625 deletes petitioning at all, so that (if this bill were enacted) new parties and independent candidates couldn’t participate at all.

All of these bills had a hearing on March 13, but no action has been taken yet.

There is no rational reason to build any discrimination into the public funding law. The “Clean Elections” of Maine and Arizona are refreshing in their simplicity and fairness; every candidate is treated the same, regardless of party. Candidates who raise enough private money qualify for public funding, period, regardless of party.