[Kimberly Hynes]

 

 

                                                                                        

 

 

 

 

 

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, January 27, 2010

 

 

Poll shows 79% support the Citizens’ Election Program in Connecticut

 

 A Strong Majority of Voters Want Governor and General Assembly to Amend Citizens’ Election Program Due to Court Ruling

 

 

Hartford, Conn. —A Zogby International poll released today found that Connecticut voters overwhelmingly support the Citizens’ Election Program—79 percent of respondents supported the program as described. When asked if the Governor and state legislature should act now to amend Connectcut’s landmark Citizens’ Election program to comply with a district court ruling,  58 percent support the Governor and Legislature acting so that the program can be available to candidates in the 2010 elections.

 

 

  “Nearly 8 in 10 respondents indicated their support for public financing of elections—this is a message that the Governor and legislators can’t ignore,” said Cheri Quickmire, executive director of Common Cause Connecticut. “Voters want elections to be about them and not big money donors. Our state leaders must act now to amend the Citizens’ Election program so it is available to candidates for the 2010 election cycle and beyond.”

 

As the state grapples with a continuing state budget deficit, the Governor and the General Assembly have cut more than $38 million from the Citizens’ Election Program in the last 14 months.  But when presented with a statement that the state can’t afford the Citizens’ Election program because of the state deficit, only 21% respondents agreed while 68% wants the Clean Elections’ Program to blunt the special deals that lobbyists and state contractors used to receive in exchange for political contributions.

 

“This poll sends a strong message to lawmakers in Hartford – stop cutting the funds to the Citizens’ Election Program!” said Karen Hobert Flynn, Vice

President for State Operations of Common Cause. “This poll shows, without a doubt, that support for the popular program cuts across political affiliation, ideology, income level and age.

 

 

The poll found that support for the Citizens’ Election program crosses all traditional demographic groups. The specific question about support for the Citizens’ Election Program garnered strong support among Republicans (84.4%), Independents (80.9%), and Democrats (74.2%). 

 

When asked “If you knew your State legislator voted against fixing the Citizens Election Program, would it make you more or less likely to vote for him or her for re-election this year, or does it make no difference to your vote?” 41 percent indicated they would be less likely to vote for a politician who voted against updating the popular program.

 

“The Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United could unleash a flood of corporate money into state elections, but a strong Citizen’ Election Program that allows candidates to magnify the impact of small donations will help candidates to compete and get their message out,” said Hobert Flynn.

 

 

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For  more information contact:

 

 Cheri Quickmire, Common Cause: (860) 539-6846

 Karen Hobert Flynn, Common Cause (860) 729-8634