Law makers want money, no questions asked

There’s a reason there are no elections in prisons.

Would you let the inmates vote for the warden? Or allow them to set term limits?

Of course not, but members of Connecticut General Assembly just tried to cap the time a director of the State Elections Enforcement Commission can stay in office, something that does not exist for any of Connecticut’s other watchdog agencies.

Did we mention the SEEC distributes and monitors the public financing (note the word public) of candidates for state office who abide by designated limits on fundraising and spending? Lawmakers are nipping at their watchdogs.

Back in 2005, Connecticut was blushing with pride from all the compliments it received for groundbreaking campaignfinancing reforms. That, of course, came in the wake of the sentencing of one of the state’s most infamous inmates, whose previous resume line was as governor. Yes, the felon known as John G. Rowland inspired reforms that would be emulated around the nation.

Fourteen years later, state lawmakers acted like prisoners in a creaky movie plot. With the clock on the wall ticking toward a deadline in 24 hours, they

smuggled plans past the public tracking system. Less than an hour later, they persuaded colleagues on both sides to approve the 48page amendment. Fortyeight pages, one minute. What could possibly have inspired Democrats and Republicans to take the bold move of working together so efficiently?

Oh, that’s right, there was money on the table to help their campaigns. It’s not petty cash. Last year, the SEEC granted $13 million to General Assembly candidates.

No questions (in public anyway). No debate (again, none in public). They didn’t quite pull off the job without notice. Connecticut Mirror’s Mark Pazniokas deftly diagrammed the stealth tactics and personal grudges, and watchdogs such as the League of Women Voters, Common Cause and the Connecticut Citizen Action Group took notice.

“They clearly had a plan, the two of them, to smack SEEC and to keep everyone in the dark,” said Cheri Quickmire, the executive director of Common Cause in Connecticut.

“The two of them” are Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, DNew Haven, and Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, RNorth Haven. At least they put their name on the measure. Six years ago, in an even more gutless act, an unnamed legislator crafted language that resulted in a 40percent loss in SEEC staff.

Both parties were poised to get a cut of the action. Republican lawmakers fined on charges of using funds to attack rivals would be cleared. Thus, a portal would have been opened so Democrats could link opponents to President Donald Trump.

Before time ran out, the House of Representatives let the measure perish from neglect. That’s a relief, but it’s not good enough.

An intervention is overdue. A lawmaker with courage needs to suggest a referee, an independent body to call a truce and restore order. The inmates can’t be trusted with the keys.

State lawmakers acted like prisoners in a creaky movie plot. With the clock on the wall ticking toward a deadline in 24 hours, they smuggled plans past the public tracking system.