Common Sense is Severely Lacking in State Politics

Our legislative veto session on July 22 is a clear indicator that common sense is severely lacking in state politics. A veto session is a constitutional requirement where the House and Senate convene to discuss bills vetoed by the governor. A two-thirds majority vote of all the members in each chamber is needed to override a gubernatorial veto.

This year Governor Dannel P. Malloy vetoed nine bills – keep in mind that all of the bills vetoed by the governor received unanimous, bipartisan support by the legislature. It was during this veto session that the Democrat-controlled legislature proved they did not have the courage to overturn the governor. It is disappointing to see that they lack the common sense needed to choose good public policy over party politics.

You may be asking yourself: Why were the governor’s vetoes not overturned on bills that passed unanimously during the legislative process?

My answer is: There is no sensible reason. The legislature as a whole voted in favor of these bills because they were deemed good public policy that would enhance the education system in Connecticut. Why the majority party’s point of view on this changed, I’m not sure.

For example, during the legislative session, I stood in strong support of a bill that sought to establish minimum qualifications for Connecticut’s Commissioner of Education.  This bill – like the nine others that were vetoed – was praised by members on both sides of the aisle, yet still failed to be overturned. This can only be explained as an eminent breakdown in our Democratic process.

Despite heavy criticism from the education community, public and media, the Democrat leadership chose to stand by the governor instead of Connecticut’s teachers, parents and students.  This is not how government should work, elected officials should seek good policy over politics, with an open and transparent legislative process that puts the citizens of Connecticut above all else.

Nearly all of the legislative Democrats proved that they were simply not willing to deal with the backlash from political leadership that would certainly come with standing up for Connecticut’s education system; it was much easier for them to avoid doing the right thing by challenging the governor on his veto. The citizens of Connecticut deserve legislators who are willing and able to put politics aside for good policy.

Sadly, the outcome of this veto session is just another symbol of a deeper rooted problem on the rise in Hartford: politics takes precedence over doing what is best for the citizens of this state.

So, the governor’s vetoes remain in effect. Democrats in the legislature once again picked politics over good public policy and the proceedings in Hartford continue to be one-party rule. Under no circumstances should politics surpass improvements to our education system; our teachers, parents and students deserve better than this.