CEP Probably Doomed: George Jepsen

ya'll know I love George - but I disagree (0.00 / 0)

There are drafts in the works for a fix to this bill, two raised bills have proposed fixes, the Governor has created a working group to do it, and the GAE committee is committed to a fix.

I think a fix will be passed soon, but as citizens, we need to make sure it does!

---

by: Kim Hynes @ Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 18:48:27 PM UTC

I dunno (0.00 / 0)

I'm concerned that all kinds of unnecessary changes are preconditions for support from some legislators.

I think the fix has a good chance of passing "lean" (addressing just the constitutional concerns raised by Underhill), and no chance of passing "big" (with provisions that would be seen as benefitting or harming the various candidates for statewide office that individual legislators may favor or oppose). I don't think the bill is certain enough to pass that it can afford to lose Malloy/Fedele supporters because it reduces grants or Lamont/Foley supporters by allowing large exploratory contributions to count as qualifying donations.

I think the best approach of all is to 1) repeal the clause that brings the whole CEP down, 2) make all the changes contingent on the 2nd Circuit striking down specific provisions*, and 3) leave all the qualifying rules that weren't challenged (thresholds, donation amounts) alone. If they do feel the need to make structural changes, do it for future cycles so the bill doesn't get squished due to 2010 politics.

My question to you, Kim, is this: how likely are they to add in all kinds of crap that would tilt the 2010 playing field? To me, it seems very likely that they will make the fix bill a political football and destroy the chances of it passing -- leaving supporters of the program to hope that the second circuit will stay the injunction through to the end of the current cycle so as not to interfere in the outcome of the election. Jepsen said that it's less than 50-50 that the legislature will fix it, AND that it's less than 50-50 that the courts will allow it to stand 'til the end of the year. At this point I'd agree with that assessment.

(*This was used in the GAE raised bill, but should have been used more -- including for reducing grant and supplemental amounts, which should only be done if the court finds that the current amounts are "windfalls." Which, of course, they aren't.)

–7.25 / –7.28 | http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tw...

---

by: mattw @ Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 21:07:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

GAE is having a public hearing on Monday morning (0.00 / 0)

Come on up - we'll talk!

---

by: Kim Hynes @ Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 21:29:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Another one? (0.00 / 0)

I am confused.

Anyway, what time? I have a hot date to have a fuel filter replaced at 8, but if I can get up there before the hearing starts then maybe I'd come up.

–7.25 / –7.28 | http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tw...

---

by: mattw @ Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 22:17:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It starts at 10 am. (0.00 / 0)

It is always good to have a pro-CEP presence at these hearings!!

---

by: Kim Hynes @ Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 16:59:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]