Republicans charge that Democrats want to launder state contractor ca$h thru their federal campaign account

Minority House and Senate Republicans are finishing a news conference blasting Democrats for an attempt, reported yesterday in the CTPolitics Blog that would allow the Democratic State Central Committee to use its federal account to pay for a mailer for Gov. Dan Malloy’s candidacy. This would essentially erase the 2005 ban on state contractor contributions to statewide races, charged House Minority Leader Larry Cafero and Senate Minority Leader John McKinney. Contractors are allowed to contribute to federal accounts of the GOP and Democratic parties, but the money is barred from statewide races. Democrats last week asked the Federal Election Commission to issue a ruling allowing them to use the maneuver. The Republican leaders said that Democrats favor campaign finance restrictions when they can benefit from them.  Cheri Quickmire, executive director of Common Cause in Connecticut, the non-profit election watchdog, said this gubernatorial cycle is bringing in eye-popping amounts of money on both sides. ”It is clear to us that money is being raised on both sides and spent on both sides in amounts completely beyond what we imagined,” she said. “It is not entirely clear where the money comes from. Election law prohibits federal account dollars from being spent to support state candidates so if that is done it is skirting election law. Common Cause will provide comment to the FEC.” The deadline to comment to the FEC is Friday.

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