Featured in Politics The Day Publishing Co., 2005 League Of Women Voters Wants State Campaign Finance Reform By SUSAN HAIGH & ASSOCIATED PRESS Published on 11/23/2005 Hartford˜ As the debate over campaign finance reform dragged on at the state Capitol, the national president of the League of Women Voters attempted to jump start the talks on Tuesday. Kay Maxwell and other League officials met with legislative leaders and Gov. M. Jodi Rell's staff, urging them to reach an agreement and pass a reform bill now. The League is offering to help the policy-makers come to a compromise, possibly acting in a mediator role or lobbying to make sure the legislature passes a bill. „We are consensus builders. Our organization is built on consensus and we are looking for ways to bring people together,‰ she said. Maxwell, a Greenwich resident, said all eyes are on Connecticut, and passage of such a major proposal could have a ripple effect in other states and in Congress. Campaign finance reform is one of the four issues the national association is focusing on this year. „We're at a certain point. It is doable. We've got this opportunity and we don't want this opportunity missed,‰ Maxwell said in an interview with The Associated Press. The Democrat-controlled legislature is still technically in a special session to vote on a campaign finance reform bill, but no vote has been scheduled. The leaders have been meeting behind the scenes trying to come up with a compromise bill to present to rank-and-file members. House Majority Leader Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, said he remains hopeful that a vote will be taken in the coming weeks. He said a draft bill may be ready before the end of the month. „We're hoping to have something pretty solid, very soon,‰ he said. Legislators could not reach a compromise during this year's regular session, with the House of Representatives and Senate passing dueling bills. Both bills created a new, voluntary publicly financed system for all state candidates. They also banned campaign contributions from lobbyists, state contractors and political action committees, and placed new limits on the legislature's PACs. One of the major sticking points was the implementation date for the reforms. While Rell and Republicans want to start the reforms immediately, many Democrats want to wait until after the 2006 election. Christine Horrigan, director of government issues for the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, said the League is willing to wait for reforms to take place. She said it's better to pass a bill that changes the system rather than have no bill at all. „They can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good,‰ she said. Jara Burnett, co-president of the League's Connecticut branch, said she also hopes lawmakers' efforts won't be derailed by concerns over third-party candidates. Some legislators are worried that a special interest group might take advantage of the public financing program by running a sham candidate as a spoof or a single-issue candidate to attack the major party candidates. While she doesn't want to see 150 names on the ballot, Burnett said she believes the new system won't be a free pass for third-party candidates. They'll still have to prove they are viable candidates who are worthy of the public financing. Maxwell said she understands that many incumbents fear the change that comes with campaign finance reform. But she said something needs to be done to end the public's perception that government is bought and paid for by special interests. „We've got an opportunity here because of things that have happened in Connecticut,‰ she said, referring to former Gov. John G. Rowland and former Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim serving prison sentences for corruption-related crimes. „People are tired of having special interests run their elections and run their government,‰ she said. „They want to take it back.‰ © The Day Publishing Co., 2005 For home delivery, please call 1-866-846-9099