Gentile co-sponsors bill that targets 'dark money'

HARTFORD - State Rep. Linda Gentile, D-Ansonia, Derby, joined her colleagues in a press conference today to discuss legislation designed to shed light on and reduce the amount of special interest “dark money” in state election campaigns.

Linda Gentile 

“Voters deserve to know who is financing a campaign,” Gentile said. 

“This bill not only increases transparency and trust between the public and the government, but it will also ensure that candidates are elected to office by their constituents and not by third party special interest groups.” 

The bill, HB5589, An Act Concerning Campaign Financing Reform, would:

• Require corporate political expenditures to be approved by their board of directors and disclosed to shareholders
• Limit contributions to organizations making independent expenditures to an aggregate of $70,000 in a calendar year
• Ban foreign influenced entities from making independent expenditures or contributing to an organization that does

The bill was expected to be approved Monday.  

This is a press release from Gentile's office.