Kennedy Supports Bill to Increase Transparency and Accountability on Connecticut Earmarks

HARTFORD, CT – State Representative Kathy Kennedy (R-119), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, today strongly supported legislation to bring stronger oversight and public transparency to legislatively directed funds, commonly known as earmarks and to restore public trust in state spending. 

“Taxpayers, especially the people I represent in Milford and Orange, deserve to know exactly where their money is going and whether it’s delivering results,” said Rep. Kennedy. “This bill ends the practice of handing out blank checks and brings real accountability to the earmark process.” 

The bill requires clear identification of all recipients and intended purposes, prior approval for any subrecipient transfers, and strict reporting requirements to ensure funds are used as intended. 

The push for earmark reform was first proposed in response to public and political pressure for greater oversight.  In 2025, Connecticut House Republicans publicly criticized the earmark process, calling it a “closed-door” system with no application process, public hearings, statutory requirements, or oversight before, during, or after allocation. This came amid FBI investigations into earmark decisions and related corruption cases in Hartford.

Key Provisions Include: 

• State agencies cannot award earmarks without naming the specific recipient, address, and exact purpose.
• Recipients must obtain approval before passing funds to subrecipients, who face the same disclosure rules.
• OPM must create formal policies for earmark administration and maintain a public online database.
• Quarterly and annual reporting to legislative committees on all disbursements and fund usage.
• Enhanced controls and public reporting on Other Expenses (OE) accounts.