Conn. official ('RAT Susan Bysiewicz) asks court to keep campaign program

The Hartford Courant ^ | January 5, 2010 | AP

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HARTFORD, Conn. - Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz on Tuesday urged a federal appeals court to reverse a recent decision that struck down Connecticut's public campaign financing program, saying it is too late to change the rules for candidates with an August primary looming.

Bysiewicz, a potential Democratic candidate for governor, said if the public funding is not made available, there won't be enough time for a gubernatorial candidate to raise close to the $4 million in private money that candidates in the 2006 race for governor had each raised.

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"Time is of the essence," said Bysiewicz, adding how she wanted to give the appeals court a candidate's perspective. "We just need to know what the rules are..."

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Bysiewicz filed the friend of the court brief under the name of her exploratory committee. It is the latest effort by a potential candidate for governor to clarify whether public funding will be available for the 2010 elections.

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ping!