Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Fedele’s campaign funding thwarted by his own party

  • by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas
  • August 4, 2010
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

From the start of his gubernatorial campaign, Republican Michael Fedele has counted on the state’s public financing system–a system that promised him $3 million for the general election, plus up to $3 million more if he faced an opponent who exceeded spending limits.

Now, in a twist caused by the confluence of the law and politics, Democrats want to give him that second $3 million whether he needs it or not, and the Republican governor and legislators he served with for years are determined not to let him have it.

It’s nothing personal, but Gov. M. Jodi Rell Monday vetoed a bill that would have doubled the basic general election grant to $6 million. The majority Democrats, who support the bill, may try to override her, but Republican legislators say they won’t help.

So does Fedele, Rell’s lieutenant governor, resent his boss’s decision to veto the bill? Has he been lobbying Republican lawmakers to reconsider opposition to the measure and help override Rell?

No and no, he said. “I figure I will leave this one up to the legislature and the governor to work out.”

The governor and the legislature are trying to deal with a federal appeals court ruling that granting supplemental funds to a publicly-funded candidate if a self-funded opponent exceeds a statutory limit is unconstitutional. Democrats want to double the base grant to $6 million; Republican legislators and Rell say the base grant should remain at $3 million.

House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, said calling Fedele to let him know the House Republican caucus will not budge was “one of the toughest conversations I have had, being a personal endorser of him. … You don’t make laws based on individuals or individual circumstances. It’s not what you do.”

Following Rell’s veto on Monday, Democratic leaders vowed to try to gather the votes to override. But whether that would be before next week’s primary — which will determine the final lineup for the governor’s race — was still not determined by Tuesday night.

In both the Republican and Democrat primaries there is a publicly financed candidate against a self-financed millionaire — so there’s a chance of a repeat scenario in the general election. Fedele and Democrat Dan Malloy are participating in the Citizens’ Election Program. Financing their campaigns themselves are Democrat Ned Lamont and Republican Tom Foley. Republican Oz Griebel also opted out of the public finance system, but he lack’s Lamont and Foley’s resources and is way behind the other candidates in fund raising.

Fedele said he would abide by whatever the legislature decides.

“We will live with whatever the governor and the legislature decides the CEP should look like … We will end up using whatever is left of the CEP,” he said during an interview Tuesday.

Fedele insisted he could put on a competitive campaign against the self-financed Lamont without an increase in the base grant.

“Look, the CEP never, even from its initial concept, ever did a dollar-for-dollar match” against a wealthy self-funder, he said. “My sense is whatever survives in the CEP, based on what the legislature and governor do, I think we will be able to effectively run a good campaign.”

Malloy, who could face self-financed Foley in the general election, has not been as sanguine, saying he was depending on matching grants if he faces a high-spending opponent and would be at a disadvantage if the base grants are not increased.

However, whether Democrats have the votes to override Rell and increase the grant remains to be seen.

Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney said Monday he believes he has the votes in the Senate. But whether the votes are there in the state House of Representatives is still unclear.

The House Democrats have enough members to override a veto, but fell 26 votes short of a veto-proof majority when the bill was passed Friday–18 Democrats voted no and 21 were absent.

Doug Whiting, a spokesman for House Democrats, said they are looking at taking up the measure again either later this week or next week. He said he is not sure if there are enough votes to override.

If Democrats fail to override the governor, they still must fix the portions of the law ruled unconstitutional — including the state’s ban on lobbyists’ contributions — or the whole program will be thrown out. The governor and lawmakers have agreed to restrict lobbyist’s donations to $100.

But how to keep races competitive in light of the matching grants being thrown out remains to be determined.

“I’ve heard a lot of different options by both sides, I really don’t know at this point,” Fedele said.

Cafero’s suggestion: allow gubernatorial candidates to raise up to $3 million in additional money for their campaigns in donations of no more than $2,500.

“It’s not just an all out ‘No, Mike, you are stuck with the $3 million.’ We recognize that the circumstances, given the court order, could put these two participating candidates at a disadvantage.”

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
‘It’s a nightmare:’ A growing number of seniors are unable to book vaccine appointments as problems mount
by Dave Altimari and Jenna Carlesso

The state acknowledged Friday in an email to local health workers that some residents are waiting days for a callback.

Panel recommends small, inflationary pay hike for state officials
by Keith M. Phaneuf

Connecticut's part-time legislature hasn't received a pay hike since 2001. The annual base-pay for senators and representatives is $28,000.

Police task force seeks wider applicant pool for watchdog role
by Kelan Lyons

The task force sent four recommendations — and two that didn't get unanimous approval— to lawmakers for the 2021 session.

Miguel Cardona, who are you?
by Ann Policelli Cronin

When I ask Connecticut teachers about Miguel Cardona, those who know him or have worked with him say that he is really nice guy who knows what the challenges in our classrooms are, knows how to help teachers to improve their teaching, and respects public schools. All good. But what is his vision for teaching and learning that he will bring to the U.S. Department of Education?

Connecticut needs a strong two-party system, this Democrat says
by Edward Marcus

J.R. Romano’s recent resignation as the state’s Republican Party chair has brought into focus the need for a viable opposition party in Connecticut. It is not healthy politics when everything is totally controlled by one party:  the legislature, the governorship, and most of the major municipalities in our state.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Miguel Cardona, who are you?
by Ann Policelli Cronin

When I ask Connecticut teachers about Miguel Cardona, those who know him or have worked with him say that he is really nice guy who knows what the challenges in our classrooms are, knows how to help teachers to improve their teaching, and respects public schools. All good. But what is his vision for teaching and learning that he will bring to the U.S. Department of Education?

Opinion Connecticut needs a strong two-party system, this Democrat says
by Edward Marcus

J.R. Romano’s recent resignation as the state’s Republican Party chair has brought into focus the need for a viable opposition party in Connecticut. It is not healthy politics when everything is totally controlled by one party:  the legislature, the governorship, and most of the major municipalities in our state.

Opinion Connecticut’s $100 million college shell game
by Stephen Adair

The plan to consolidate the 12 community colleges in Connecticut into one college with 12 campuses is called “Students First,” which is ironic because it does not fund students first.  It funds a new administration in a new, statewide bureaucracy. The Board of Regents (BOR) and the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system office […]

Opinion Inconsistent television captioning is a barrier to equal access
by Jeffrey Bravin and Barbara Cassin

Our world long ago entered the age of the 24-hour news cycle, and a full understanding of the “who, what, when, where and why” of the news is critical for deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing citizens. Yet, Connecticut’s inconsistent quality of television captioning locks our community out of the complete sense of what is happening.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO