Government’s Thumb on the Election Scales

Posted on Oct 18, 2011 in Electoral Reform, Research Connecticut’s taxpayer-funded campaigns program paid for nearly half of state campaign spending in 2010 according to new research from the Yankee Institute for Public Policy. The Citizens’ Election Program (CEP) accounted for $26.1 million of the $53.5 million spent by all candidates for state offices. “Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to pay for the campaigns of candidates they oppose,”...
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Victory at US Supreme Court

Posted on Jun 27, 2011 in Electoral Reform, Press, Research HARTFORD – The United States Supreme Court ruled today that a key component of taxpayer funded campaign schemes like that used in Connecticut unconstitutionally violates the First Amendment free speech rights of candidates, their supporters, and taxpayers. Ruling in Arizona Free Enterprise Club’s Freedom Club PAC v Bennett, the Court threw out the use of taxpayer-financed matching funds,...
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Slanting the Playing Field: Connecticut’s Publicly Financed Campaign System

Posted on Dec 22, 2009 in Electoral Reform, Research 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 full...
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