15,000 Pages? Get the Scissors Ready.

It’s called “red tape” – and at the State Capitol I am trying to cut up and eliminate that red tape in order to get our economy moving again.

What’s “red tape?” Imagine a series of complex government forms and procedures which are redundant and time-consuming to navigate. Those rigid rules and endless paperwork lead to frustration that hinders job growth in our state.

American Civil War veterans’ records were bound in red tape. The difficulty in accessing those records led to the modern use of the term, but there is evidence that the term had been already in use in Europe for centuries.

Once red tape is created by government, it is very difficult to get rid of. Believe it or not, Connecticut has 15,000 pages of state regulations. 15,000! There is no telling how many old and obsolete regulations make up that 15,000-page document.

We have got to move in a different direction as a state. We need to envision a state government that is leaner and more efficient – a government that is friendlier to those of us who live here, work here and want to create jobs here. As your state senator in Hartford, I strive to be your voice at the State Capitol. That’s why I am pleased to bring you some good news as far as all that red tape is concerned.

There is a new initiative to review state regulations which generate red tape and unnecessary burdens on us. Ideally, this initiative will eliminate many regulations from the state’s books, enabling job growth.

How can you tell state government what you think of all that red tape? Comments on existing regulations will be accepted at [email protected] until December 16. Be sure to cc me on your email at [email protected]. State regulations can be viewed at www.ct.gov/eregulations. All state agencies will receive the email comments related to their regulations, and each agency will have to provide a summary report with recommendations on or before February 3, 2014.

The state also plans to hold forums on regulation reform around the state, and I will keep you posted as to when and where they will be held. If you have any questions or want to discuss state regulations more in depth, feel free to call me at (800) 842-1421.

This is a unique and effective way to attack the problem of bureaucratic over-regulation in Connecticut. It is an opportunity for the public to make its voice heard and to press for much-needed regulatory reform. Who knows? Maybe we are witnessing the start of a trend toward not only less regulations but toward lower spending and lower taxes as well. That’s my goal, and that’s what I will continue to fight for.