The Legislature of Too Little, Too Late

On Wednesday the Connecticut General Assembly again convened for the purpose of closing the state’s $356 million budget deficit, and again adjourned leaving the job unfinished. The mitigation plan passed by the legislature, but opposed by all 49 Republicans, resulted in only $120 million in savings to the General Fund and included new spending for a controversial Democrat-backed program that has never even received a public hearing.

That’s right – the General Assembly got together in order to cut spending and close the budget deficit and instead passed a bill that included new spending and left the deficit largely intact. And all this happened despite Senate President Don Williams’ promise in January that “any proposal that costs money, that doesn’t pay for itself, is almost assuredly dead on arrival.”

For her part, Governor Rell will reluctantly sign the mitigation plan into law, because she knows it is the most she can get out of the legislature at this time. But Governor Rell also acknowledged that the Democrats “didn’t make as many cuts as we needed” and “cannot continue to be the legislature of too little, too late” if we are to overcome our budget crisis, put people back to work and get our economy moving again.

more

Ethics Bill

Senate Republicans joined Governor Rell in calling for a nine-point ethics bill. These proposals will create a criminal penalty for public officials who fail to report a bribe, and give judges the power to revoke or reduce the pensions of corrupt public officials and state employees.

The Senate Republican Caucus stands ready to pass the nine-point proposal immediately, and we will continue to fight for additional ethics reforms including restrictions for state officials who lobby legislators, and the creation of a Standing Committee on Ethics.

We would prefer a bicameral standing committee to deal with ethical violations and acts of official misconduct, but short of reaching agreement across both legislative chambers, I again call on Senator Don Williams to join our caucus in establishing a Senate Standing Committee on Ethics.

A Senate Committee on Ethics can be created by a simple amendment to Senate rules and does not require the approval of either the House or Governor. According to the Office of Legislative Research, 41 state legislatures have designated committees to hear and investigate complaints alleging ethical or legislative rule violations committed by individual legislators.

Ethics and State Government

Public office is a public trust. During the past decade, that public trust has been betrayed time and again by elected officials and state employees who believed they were above the law. Yesterday I testified before the Government Administration and Elections Committee about the Senate Republican Caucus’ ethics agenda.

We have proposed creating a Bipartisan Standing Committee on Ethics; giving judges the power to revoke or reduce the pensions of corrupt public officials and state employees; establishing a criminal penalty for elected officials who fail to report a bribe; requiring ethics training for state elected and appointed officials and state employees; establishing new restrictions for state officials who lobby legislators; and prohibiting legislators from serving as municipal chief elected officials.

At the start of the legislative session, I presented this agenda to Senate President Pro Tem Don Williams and I am encouraged by the broad bipartisan support most of our proposals have received.

The General Assembly faces several important challenges this legislative session as we work to improve public safety, increase access to quality affordable health care, and help Connecticut residents cope with rising energy costs and a slowing economy. But, in order for state government to achieve its goals in any of these areas, it is vital we take the steps necessary to restore trust and public confidence in our elected officials.