Please read my letter in today’s Waterbury Republican-American

September 2, 2015

Democrats doing their lawmaking in darkness
Waterbury Republican-American Letter to the Editor

September 2, 2015

Behind closed doors, the University of Connecticut’s board of trustees approved a budget for fiscal year 2015-16 that increases spending by 9 percent (Aug. 28 editorial, “Layoffs expose fiscal ineptitude”).

Sound familiar?

In June, Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy crafted the 2015-17 state budget behind closed doors, increasing government spending (again) and raising taxes (again).

They did it in darkness, without a single Republican in the room.

As Republicans propose legislation to make UConn’s budget process more transparent, we also will remind the public that the same transparency is desperately needed at the state Capitol.

Taxpayers should be able to scrutinize these budgets and provide input.

After all, it’s their money.

Michael McLachlan

Danbury

Sen. McLachlan, a Republican, represents the 24th Senate District, which includes Danbury, New Fairfield and Sherman, as well as part of Bethel. He is Senate ranking member of the legislature’s Government Administration and Elections Committee, which has jurisdiction over government-transparency matters.