One of Connecticut’s top Democrats has fired a shot across the bows of the state’s largest business organization.
Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney has filed a complaint with the State Elections Enforcement Commission, charging that the Connecticut Business and Industry Association is illegally coordinating with Republicans in the election campaign.
CBIA is spending $415,000 in promoting candidates it agrees with in 15 races for the General Assembly this year.
Looney said the organization invited some Democratic candidates to visit member businesses in their districts, and then rescinded the invitations hours later; he wants to know if Republicans were then allowed to visit businesses, giving the impression that their candidates are more engaged with the business community.
He claims that would amount to illegal coordination between the CBIA and the Republican campaigns.
CBIA said the emails did go out, but that due to a technical error, they were issued to some campaigns that should not have received them.
“CBIA believes that the complaint filed with the State Elections Enforcement Commission is without merit,” said CBIA President Joe Brennan in a statement. “We are confident that we are in full compliance with all state election laws. CBIA has repeatedly sought guidance, in advance, from SEEC staff over the last two months regarding our election activities, particularly independent expenditures."
Senator Looney has asked the SEEC to expedite its investigation of his complaint so that it can be considered before the election on November 8th.
CBIA said it will continue to speak out on issues concerning the state's economic future.
