Malloy remarks on Democratic Governors Association’s federal funding lawsuit against the State Elections Enforcement Commission

danmay9Earlier this week, the Democratic Governors Association filed a federal lawsuit against the State Elections Enforcement Commission over state law on so-called independent expenditures. The DGA wants to help Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, but is concerned that any funding help may be considered “coordinated” with the incumbent’s campaign and therefore prohibited.

Reporters caught the governor outside the Senate chamber on Friday, after he participated in the 36th annual Holocaust Commemoration.

Malloy: “I’m not weighing in on the lawsuit. It is important that the laws be enforced and the right laws be enforced in the right way and in this case that organization feels that there is a misinterpretation of the law. So they’ve responded I think appropriately, but I hope for a quick decision. I made it clear that I think the real problem here is a series of Supreme Court decisions, just recently the McCutcheon (versus Federal Elections Commission) decision that is making money more important than it’s ever been. I support making it less important but I also support the proper laws being applied….I don’t pretend to be a passive bystander. I’m a governor and I’m a Democrat and I’m standing for re-election. Having said that, with respect to this matter, folks have the right to do what they believe is their right to do. I got a heads-up that they were going to do this. I can assure you I’m not a decision maker with respect to this activity and I hope they get a swift answer…”

He was asked if state laws were an “over-reach.”

Malloy: “I wouldn’t say that they overreach. I would say in this case, a group wants to make sure that they’re not in a position to violate the law. They want to make sure there’s an agreement on what the law is. To that end, I can’t argue that they don’t have a right to protect themselves so that they are compliant with the law and the law they’re complaint with is the right law…Whatever the law is, it should be enforced.”