Dems rebuke Meek and Obsitnik over missing financials

State Democratic Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo today accused Republicans Steve Obsitnik and Chris Meek, both declared candidates in the 4th Congressional District represented by Democrat Jim Himes of Greenwich, of failing to file personal financial disclosure statements with the House Clerk in a timely fashion.

“Either these guys think the rules don’t apply to them, or they are hiding something from us,” DiNardo said in a statement. “If we can’t trust them to turn in a few bank statements on time, we certainly can’t trust them to put the interests of Connecticut citizens first.”

Obsitnik disputed the allegations in a statement to Hearst Connecticut Newspapers, providing a copy of his financial disclosure statement dated Jan. 22 and showing that he earned an annual salary $290,000 as chairman and chief executive of Quintel Technology, a wireless consulting firm based in Mountain View, Calif.

Now the question is did Obsitnik abide by the prescribed deadline for filing?

“In fact, I filed my financial disclosure within the FEC’s extension period,” Obsitnik said. “This is another example of Jim Himes and the Democratic party trying to divert attention away from their irresponsible track record which has added $5 trillion to the national debt in three years, excessive unemployment, and our crumbling infrastructure. These are the topics that are important to the voters of Connecticut.”

Here are the first three pages of Obsitnik’s financial disclosure statement.

A message seeking comment was also left Monday for Meek.

Financial disclosure statements are not available online for non-incumbents, according to a person who answered the phone Monday at the House Legislative Resource Center on Capitol Hill.

Late filers face a $200 fine.

Here’s what House ethics rules  have say about filing financial disclosure forms:

Individuals are required to file a Financial Disclosure Statement once they “qualify” as a candidate by raising or spending more than $5,000 in a campaign for election to the House of Representatives.  Both the office-seeker’s own funds and contributions from third parties count towards the threshold.  An individual who never raises or spends more than $5,000 has no financial disclosure obligations with the House, even if that person’s name appears on an election ballot. All individuals who do meet this definition must file each year that they continue to be candidates. The deadline for filing the Financial Disclosure Statement depends on whether you qualify as a candidate in an election or non-election year.  If you qualify as a candidate during an election (even-numbered) year, then you must file a Financial Disclosure Statement within 30 days of becoming a candidate or May 15 of that year, whichever is later.  There are two exceptions to this general rule: First, a qualifying candidate must file no later than 30 days before any election (including primaries) in which the individual is participating.  Thus, if you become a candidate on January 5 in an election year and the primary is on April 22, the report is due by March 21 (no later than 30 days before the election).  Second, if a candidate crosses the $5,000 threshold within the 30-day period prior to an election, the candidate must file the Financial Disclosure Statement immediately after he or she raises or spends more than $5,000.  Candidates in a special election also follow this filing rule. If you qualify during a non-election (odd-numbered) year, then you must file your initial Financial Disclosure Statement within 30 days of qualifying. You are then required to file a subsequent Statement on May 15 of the following year if you are still a candidate on that date.  If you lose a primary election before May 15, then you are not required to file the Statement.

**  Late Filing Fee **

A $200 late filing fee shall be assessed against any individual who files more than 30 days after the due date of a report or amendment (or the due date of any extension).

Neil Vigdor