We can’t seem to shake the label CORRUPTICUT!

 

Susan Kniep  860-841-8032

 

October 2014

 

We have just learned that the State of Connecticut Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) verbally slammed the state Democrat Party for attempting to use funds from a federal campaign finance account to finance the re-election campaign of Governor Dannel Malloy seeking a State office.  In fact, this State committee has sought the intervention of the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) in order to prevent the comingling of these funds.

Their letter to the FEC states:

"The state party’s efforts to circumvent strong state laws are at odds with both the public good and the clear intent of the citizens of Connecticut. “They are justified by neither the letter nor the spirit of the federal law. “The SEEC is disappointed to see a state party committee utilizing such a tactic and respectfully requests that this Commission reject the effort in its entirety.”

Connecticut has very restrictive campaign finance laws.  More so than other states.  A contribution to a candidate cannot exceed $100.  State contractors cannot financially support a candidate.  According to CTMirror.org, “Democrats have raised $4.5 million in their federal account over the two-year election cycle. “They raised $538,000 in the state account in the first six months of this year”.

The issue came about when Republican legislators complained when the Democrats asked the FEC to allow contractors to support state campaigns through the Federal account.  

In its letter to the FEC, the SEEC noted the scandals involving John Rowland and Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim.  Both had accepted favors bestowed upon them by State contractors.

The SEEC wrote “These scandals received widespread press coverage, leading the media to dub the state 'Corrupticut.' The public had lost confidence in their state officials. A 2004 poll revealed that 78% of likely Connecticut voters agreed that the way political campaigns were financed in Connecticut encouraged candidates to grant special favors and preferential treatment to their contributors”.

BRAVO TO OUR STATE ELECTIONS ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION!!!

Voters in Connecticut should be complimenting all five of the SEEC's  Democratic and Republican commissioners along with Michael J. Brandi, the executive director and general counsel and Shannon Clark Kief, the legal program director of the SEEC.  For more on this issue as provided by CTMirror.org refer to http://ctmirror.org/seec-slams-democrats-over-campaign-finance-plan/

 

Now let’s take a look at some of the State’s bad boys who violated our campaign finance laws, went to prison, and soon could be returning.

 

On September 19, 2014, we learned that three term former governor and ex-con John Rowland who walked out of Federal prison in Feb, 2006 after serving a near one year sentence for mail and tax fraud will be walking back in.  On or about Jan 7, 2015, Rowland will be sentenced on seven counts of conspiracy, corruption and campaign finance law violations. 

 

 

In 2013, we learned that former State Senator Ernie Newton, who had previously served five years in a federal pen after pleading guilty in 2006 to three felonies for taking a bribe, evading taxes, and using campaign funds for personal use, was again arrested.  This time for first-degree larceny, tampering with a witness and five counts of illegal campaign practices.  Newton had used false information to access more than $80,000 in public funding.

 

But Newton, regardless of past crimes or current alleged crimes, wanted his old Senate seat back and the Democrat Party of Bridgeport was pleased to oblige him.  Although overwhelming endorsed to run for the seat, the voters rejected Newton in the August, 2014 primary.  

 

In May, 2014 we learned that the prosecutors offered Newton a deal.   An eight year prison sentence, suspended after three, and five years probation if he would plead guilty to first degree larceny.  Newton has not taken a plea.  A trial date has yet to be set. 

 

And sometimes out of the bad, comes the good!  In 2013, the State legislature passed the Ernie Newton Law which prohibits convicted felons and those who had violated state election laws from gaining access to Connecticut’s public financing program for the General Assembly and other elected positions.  

 

Joseph Ganim the former five term mayor of Bridgeport was convicted of corruption in 2003 for running a racketeering conspiracy while extorting over $800,000 from contractors and developers working in  Bridgeport.  In Sept, 2012 he was released from prison and unsuccessfully attempted to regain his law license.  

 

We have also witnessed the arrest and conviction of those associated with the Pay to Play scheme involving the campaign of former House Speaker Christopher Donovan.  Although Donovan was not directly implicated, those associated with his campaign to include a high ranking, politically connected, union operative were arrested, convicted, and sent to jail or a halfway house.  Playing out like a John Grisham novel, we learned of Fed wire taps.  Then the Feds flipped the union operative to wear a wire tap on his friends/associates.    

 

While the Attorney General has no hope of taking the public pensions away from Rowland, Newton, or Ganim, consideration should be given to going after their assets to pay for their incarceration.