Sen. McKinney Testifies in Support of Sweeping State Ethics Reforms

HARTFORD, CT – Senate Minority Leader John McKinney (R-Fairfield) today testified before the General Assembly’s Government Administration and Elections Committee in support of Senate Bill 333, An Act Concerning Comprehensive Ethics Reforms.

“With the passage of these and other reforms that have the support of Governor Rell and legislative leaders from both parties, Connecticut will have established one of the highest ethical standards in the country, and it is just that we do so,” said Senator McKinney.

Senator McKinney said the Senate Republican Caucus will support the bill’s provisions to create a Bipartisan Standing Committee on Ethics, give judges the power to revoke or reduce the pensions of corrupt public officials and state employees, establish a criminal penalty for elected officials who fail to report a bribe, and require ethics training for state elected and appointed officials and state employees. He also urged the committee to “make a good bill a better bill” by amending SB 333 to establish new restrictions for state officials who lobby legislators, treat all state and municipal employees the same with regard to pension revocation, and prohibit legislators from serving as municipal chief elected officials.

“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,” said Senator McKinney.

Senator McKinney’s complete testimony:

Testimony of state Senate Minority Leader John McKinney before the Government Administration and Elections Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly

RE: Senate Bill 333, An Act Concerning Comprehensive Ethics Reforms

February 25, 2008

Chairmen Slossberg and Caruso, Ranking Members Freedman and Hetherington, and members of the Government Administration and Elections Committee: thank you for the opportunity to testify today in support of Senate Bill 333, An Act Concerning Comprehensive Ethics Reforms. I commend the committee for making this bill a priority and I hope we as a legislature will move responsibly, but swiftly to pass these and other necessary reforms.

With the passage of these and other reforms that have the support of Governor Rell and legislative leaders from both parties, Connecticut will have established one of the highest ethical standards in the country. And it is just that we do so.

Public office is a public trust. And 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.

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.

Ethics reform must be the top priority for this General Assembly; just as ethical integrity must always be the highest priority for our public officials and state employees.

In an effort to help move this process through the General Assembly, the Senate Republican Caucus introduced a comprehensive package of ethics reforms on February 4th. I am pleased to report that there is much common ground between our proposal and the bill before us today.

The Senate Republican proposal is in agreement with SB 333 on the need to create a Bipartisan Standing Committee on Ethics, give judges the power to revoke or reduce the pensions of corrupt public officials and state employees, require ethics training for state elected and appointed officials and state employees and establish a criminal penalty for elected officials who fail to report a bribe.

Please allow me to briefly outline each of these proposals which have the full support of the 12-member Senate Republican Caucus. Where applicable, I will indicate the differences between our proposal and the Senate Bill before us.

With respect to creating a Bipartisan Standing Committee on Ethics, the Senate Republican Caucus believes creation of this committee is central to any effort to reform state ethics and restore public confidence in elected officials. We agree with SB 333 in that the committee should be bipartisan and bicameral.

Our proposal differs from SB 333 in who has the power to determine probable cause. SB 333 provides for a judge trial referee to determine probable cause, whereas our proposal would give this power to the committee itself.

With respect to pension revocation, Senate Republicans agree that judges should have the power to revoke or reduce state pensions for elected or appointed public officials convicted of crimes related to their state office. Crimes committed by public officials and state employees violate the public trust and warrant severe punishment. Recent criminal activity at the Departments of Motor Vehicles, Public Works and Transportation illustrate the need for this measure.

Senate Republicans also agree with SB 333 in that public officials and state employees who witness or have knowledge of an attempted or actual bribe must report it to law enforcement. Failure to do so should result in a substantial fine and/or jail time.

The Senate Republican Caucus will also support legislation requiring state elected and appointed officials and state employees to receive training regarding ethical awareness and conduct.

With respect to the four areas I have outlined – creating a Bipartisan Standing Committee on Ethics, giving judges the power to revoke or reduce the pensions of corrupt public officials and state employees, requiring ethics training for state elected and appointed officials and state employees, and establishing a criminal penalty for elected officials who fail to report a bribe – the Senate Republican Caucus is in agreement with SB 333.

However, our proposal called for two additional reforms not reflected in the bill before us. The Senate Republican Caucus believes we can make a good bill a better bill by amending SB 333 to establish new restrictions for state officials who lobby legislators and to prohibit legislators from serving as a municipal chief elected official.

Connecticut law should prohibit state officials who lobby legislators from contributing to legislative candidates and from giving gifts. Essentially, state officials who lobby the legislature should be subject to these laws which already govern private lobbyists.

While the GAE Committee has raised a separate bill to addresses this issue, I feel this reform should be included as part of the comprehensive package of reforms comprising SB 333.

Moreover, Article III of the Connecticut Constitution currently prohibits legislators from holding a position in county government. As our state no longer has any form of county government, state law should be corrected to prohibit legislators from holding a second elected position as the chief elected official of a municipality. Currently 25 states prohibit legislators from holding a second municipal or county office of any kind; and five other states prohibit legislators from holding a second elected position that is considered lucrative.

I urge the committee to include this additional reform in SB 333.

Thank you again for the opportunity to testify today. I look forward to working in a bipartisan way to reach agreement on all of the reforms I have outlined here today.

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