HARTFORD – The Yankee Institute’s new report on the Citizens’ Election Program “Slanting the Playing Field: Connecticut’s Publicly Funded Campaign System”, authored by Heath W. Fahle, details how the Citizens’ Election Program (CEP) has further unbalanced the political playing field in favor of incumbents and major party candidates.
In addition to reviewing many of the problems associated with CEP, the report also offers five reforms which would change the program and make it work more effectively.
Among them, these reforms include:
1. Require all candidates to qualify for CEP in the same manner currently asked of minor party and petitioning candidates – by collecting petition signatures
2. Electronic Filing of Monthly Campaign Finance Disclosure Reports
3. Require an August 1 deadline for applying for CEP funds
