Tom Foley Supports Jeff Wright’s Bid–For Public Funding of His Campaign.

Tom Foley’s fierce, consistent opposition to taxpayer financing of political campaigns resonated with many Republicans in his narrow victory over Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele three weeks ago for their party’s nomination for governor.  Mr. Foley raised the issue of using public funds for political campaigns often during the long slog to the nomination.  He emphasized the ill-considered program’s expense as the state faces historic budget shortfalls for the next several years.

The former ambassador to Ireland should be able to use the issue to good effect against his Democratic opponent, former Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy, who’s sitting on a fat $6 million in public cash, delighting in the legislature’s doubling the amount he would have received before Democrats increased the amount a candidate for governor receives.  The Greenwich businessman, however, appears to have softened his opposition to public financing.  He sent a fundraising email Monday asking for contributions of up to $100 (the maximum allowed under the public financing law) to Jeff Wright, the Republican candidate for state treasurer, who is trying to raise the $75,000 in small contributions necessary to collect the public bounty.

Mr. Foley writes in his message that  ”[o]ur state deserves someone who will look out for their tax dollars and will put a stop on the reckless spending that has taken place over the last 12 years.”  That guardianship of tax dollars does not extend to the $750,000 Mr. Wright is hoping to snag in public funds.

The temptation of that public funding bonanza makes politicians contort themselves in the pursuit of it.  Mr. Foley’s joined a crowd he disdained a few weeks ago.