Fasano Asks Lamont to Halt Creation of New Quasi-Publics Until State Adopts Reforms to Increase Transparency & Oversight
August 22, 2019Today Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) wrote to Governor Ned Lamont to request that the state delay the creation of any new quasi-public agency until Connecticut adopts reforms to increase transparency and oversight of the entire quasi-public system.
“It is not wise to create any brand new quasi-public agency before the state has developed a plan to resolve the issues rampant throughout our already existing quasi-publics,” Fasano wrote, referencing two new quasi-publics approved by Democrats this year: the Paid Family Medical Leave Authority and the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority. “If we allow new quasi-publics to be formed before we resolve the current systemic issues, we will only be setting them up for failure. It’s akin to finding out a house’s structural design has a defect; but instead of halting construction on any more new homes while you fix the problem, you continue building brand new homes with the defective design still in place.”
In recent weeks, controversies at the Connecticut Lottery Corporation and Connecticut Port Authority have put the spotlight back on the state’s quasi-public agencies, which are independent government corporations created through legislation to perform a particular service or set of public functions.
For years Republican lawmakers have proposed legislation seeking to address the lack of transparency and oversight of state quasi-public agencies following controversies at multiple quasi-publics involving questionable spending, separation agreements, management of finances, and employment matters.
Governor Lamont has called for legislators to work together with his administration to develop a plan regarding future governance, structure, and oversight of the state’s quasi-public agencies. Sen. Fasano is asking that no new quasi-public agencies be formed until such a plan is adopted.