CT Senate GOP Statement on Governor’s Remarks on CSCU Chancellor

For Immediate Release

Sen. Henri Martin, Sen. Rob Sampson, Sen. Heather Somers and Sen. Stephen Harding issued the following statement regarding Gov. Lamont’s public comments today about Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system Chancellor Terrence Cheng.

“Gov. Lamont said he is not very concerned ‘about the stuff you read in the paper’ regarding Chancellor Cheng’s state credit card abuse, the $60 steak dinners, the chauffeured travel and getting $21,139 to relocate to Connecticut despite never making the move from New York.

Gov. Lamont continues to minimize the culture of ethical lapses, scandals and mismanagement in his administration as mere ‘small ball’.

The governor said it’s ‘premature’ to talk about negotiations for Chancellor Cheng’s exit, but he then said an announcement will be made about it ‘in the near future’ and that ‘he is our Chancellor, for now.’

The governor said he does not know if Chancellor Cheng’s contract allows him to return to his previous job in Connecticut higher education.  Is he double-checking on that answer?

The governor says he is looking at CSCU’s ‘big reserves’.  There’s a lot to look at, governor.  $611 million in reserves is more than ‘big’ – it’s an enormous stash of the taxpayers’ cash and it’s more than half of CSCU’s operating budget. That’s the people’s money, governor. You are right to be focused on that.”