The challenge
A governor resigned over gifts from state contractors, exposing how donors bought access.
The case
Governor John Rowland resigned in 2004 amid influence-peddling allegations involving gifts from state contractors. In 2005 the Connecticut legislature created the voluntary Citizens’ Election Program, run by the State Elections Enforcement Commission, alongside bans on contributions from lobbyists and state contractors. Candidates who raise enough $5 to $100 donations from individuals receive public grants. In the first full legislative elections in 2008, 250 candidates (about 73%) took part, and 78% of those elected used the program. Individuals gave 97% of contributions to legislative candidates, compared with 49% in 2006. In 2010 every winner of a statewide office, including the governor, ran with public funds.
Why it worked
Pairing public money with a ban on contractor and lobbyist gifts gave candidates a real alternative to special-interest funding, so most opted in. The figures come from the agency that runs the program, and participation alone does not prove less corruption.
Sources
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