Legislative Update

This has been an extremely busy summer for the state legislature.  Three weeks of rebuke and criticism from businesses, healthcare providers, and residents of all income levels who were facing the second largest tax increase in Connecticut’s history followed the 2015 legislative session which adjourned on June 3. The General Assembly convened in special session a few short weeks ago as the Democratic-led legislature left unfinished business on the table when it adjourned regular session. One of those matters was the ‘implementer’ which included the policy provisions necessary to implement the state budget.  I, along with my Republican colleagues voted against the measure. This was a missed opportunity by the Democrats to make substantial changes to address the serious concerns of Connecticut taxpayers.

Budget implementers tend to be massive.  They can, and usually do, include provisions that are not adopted as part of the state budget.  This session, a document that had 532 sections, 20,510 lines, 670 pages and delivered on the morning that we were asked to vote on it is now Public Act 15-5 and includes items that were 1) previously rejected by one or both chambers, or 2) never had a public hearing. This deceptive practice lacks transparency and completely ignores the democratic lawmaking process, a process which is meant to encourage honesty, integrity, and public input.

After what could have been a game-changing special session, businesses still face $550 million in tax increases. Hospitals and healthcare providers must digest $130 million in tax hikes, and residents must cope with about $700 million in new taxes, several of which became effective on July 1.

On July 20, the legislature then convened for a constitutionally required discussion of the bills vetoed by Governor Malloy. Only one bill was discussed in the House veto session.  The measure, HB 6977 would set forth new qualifications for the position of the Commissioner of Education. An appointee would need a master’s degree or higher in an education related field, at least five years of teaching experience and three years as an education administrator in ordered to be considered.  I voted to override the governor’s veto of this bill, which passed unanimously out of the committee and the Senate and almost unanimously out of the House during the legislative session.

During this time the governor did not give any indication that, if passed, he would veto the bill. There were ample opportunities. He could have negotiated changes to the bill with leadership. But instead, he was silent as the bill moved along in the process and ultimately passed in both chambers.

The vote to override this bill, motioned by House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, failed as it did not meet the required two-thirds vote of the entire House, or one hundred and one votes. Despite the fact that every single Democrat supported this bill throughout the process, they were eager to let the veto hold: of the 37 Democrats present (compared to 46 Republicans), only 18 voted in favor of the override. We knew that it would not change the outcome, as we only had 83 votes, but the people we represent deserve to have us stand up for them.

This veto illustrates a more substantial problem at the State Capitol. The requirements we sought and almost unanimously agreed with months ago are a bare minimum for what someone in that position should have. But because of the political discourse there was nothing Republicans could do. One-party rule is not good public policy.  We should never abandon the legislative process that was put in place to maintain integrity and transparency, especially when it comes to the education of our children.  Putting politics ahead of common sense policy is a very dangerous way for state government to operate and, I would argue, is not representative of the voices of the residents of Connecticut who count on us to make those decisions.