Divided Connecticut House forwards campaign bill to Senate

House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby Photo: Christine Stuart — CTNewsJunkie Photo: Christine Stuart — CTNewsJunkie Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Divided Connecticut House forwards campaign bill to Senate 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

HARTFORD >> The House passed a bill, 79-70, along party lines Thursday that would change campaign laws and could set the state up for a constitutional challenge.

The bill would limit the amount of money individuals, corporations, or organizations could give to independent expenditure groups participating in Connecticut’s elections to $70,000. It would also prohibit foreign nationals from making contributions, and require a greater degree of disclosure of individuals and corporations, including shareholders, making those donations.

In order to try and avoid a constitutional challenge the bill doesn’t limit the amount of spending those Super PACs or independent expenditure groups can do in favor or against a candidate.

The bill also requires the governing board, if any, of an organization planning to spend more than $10,000 on a campaign to vote on that “campaign-related disbursement” and make that information available on its website within 48 hours. The bill also asks for greater information about the individuals making contributions and more information about the shareholders.

During the six hours of debate Republicans offered seven amendments, but didn’t prolong debate.

House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, said the bill doesn’t represent any comprehensive reforms.

“The majority party has systematically mangled the so-called ‘clean election’ laws they so fiercely endorsed for years, and this latest effort does nothing to make both sides play by the same transparent rules,’’ Klarides said.

Many lawmakers expressed frustration with the legislation.

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