Citizens Election Program

A major state political party is under federal investigation. Is this 2016, or has Connecticut collectively flashed back to 2004 when its governor resigned and headed off to federal prison? Connecticut has used a unique approach to financing political campaigns since 2008, inspired by the downfall of Gov. John Rowland. The scheme, called the Citizens’ Election Program (CEP), awards taxpayer money to all candidates who can raise small donations from a set number of people. CEP was supposed to replace the stereotypical big-money politics funded by special interests. Or so we were told.

HARTFORD – The Yankee Institute has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court asking the court to review McComish v. Bennett, an Arizona free speech case challenging the constitutionality of so-called “matching grants” by which taxpayer money is given to certain political candidates. The case is relevant to ...

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. Download the ...