Opinion ID: 150472
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Solicitation Bans

Text: The CFRA also prohibits contractors and lobbyists from solicit[ing] campaign contributions on behalf of candidates for state office. See Conn. Gen.Stat. §§ 9-610(h), 9-612(g)(2)(A)-(B). Like the CFRA's ban on contributions, the ban on the solicitation of contributions applies not only to current state contractors, but also to any prospective contractor; to any principal of a contractor or prospective contractor; and to the spouse or dependent child of a contractor, a prospective contractor, or a principal of a contractor or prospective contractor. Id. § 9-612(g)(2). [5] The solicitation ban also applies to any communicator lobbyists and to the spouse or dependent child of such a lobbyist. Id. §§ 9-601(24), 9-610(h). [6] The term solicit is defined by statute to include, among other things, requesting that a contribution be made, participating in any fund-raising activities for a candidate, and bundling contributions for a candidate. Id. § 9-601(26). Excluded from the statutory definition of solicit is, among other things, making a contribution that is otherwise permitted under this chapter and informing any person of a position taken by a candidate. Id. [7] The CFRA is administered and interpreted by a state agency known as the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC). The SEEC has issued a declaratory ruling that clarifies the scope of the CFRA's solicitation ban. According to the SEEC, a contractor or lobbyist may, consistent with the CFRA's solicitation ban, engage in a number of political activities; for example, a contractor or lobbyist may [v]olunteer for a ... candidate's political campaign, [e]xpress support for a candidate, [r]un for office, or [b]e the spouse or dependent child of someone running for office. Green Party I, 590 F.Supp.2d at 298 (quoting SEEC Declaratory Ruling 2006-1, at 5-6).