State of Connecticut secondary Archives: on Government Reform
Bob Stefanowski:
Budget information should be a click away
We must prohibit conflicts of interest and ensure that politicians and their family members can never profit from the positions they hold. I will strengthen the state ethics laws and restore funding and staff to the state contracting review board that
was gutted by Governor Lamont.Promote Tax Transparency: You--the taxpayer--have a right to know how every dollar is being spent and the justification for why. In today's internet age, that information should be a click away.
Source: 2022 Connecticut BobForGovernor.com campaign website
Apr 21, 2022
Bob Stefanowski:
Biden won the election and it's past time to move on
Bob Stefanowski dodged questions about Trump's claims a year ago. On Wednesday, he answered a question about Biden's legitimacy without equivocation. "Joe Biden won the election, and it's past time to move on from 2020 and focus on
CT residents trying to figure out how they are going to keep the lights on, gas up their car, get a simple COVID test without waiting in line for hours," Stefanowski said in a text message.
Source: Connecticut Mirror on 2022 Connecticut Gubernatorial race
Jan 6, 2022
Dan Carter:
Democrats do nothing but raise campaign cash for re-election
Filibusters and sit-ins which are used to raise campaign cash to pay off fines imposed for violating the campaign finance laws are not solutions to the problems we face, they are further proof that Dick Blumenthal, and his
Democratic cohorts, is not interested in solving problems, his only interested is in re-election and maintaining his taxpayer paycheck.
Source: 2016 Connecticut Senate campaign website CarterForSenate.com
Aug 8, 2016
Dan Carter:
Fully fund the Citizens' Election Fund (public finance)
Legislative Summary: The Citizens' Election Program is a voluntary program which provides full public financing to qualified candidates for Statewide offices and the General Assembly. To participate, candidates must agree to abide by
certain guidelines, including contribution and expenditure limits and disclosure requirements. This voluntary public campaign financing program was designed to encourage citizen participation and limit the role of private money in the State of
Connecticut's political process. OnTheIssues Explanation: Changed the rules for funding the Citizens' Election Fund to make up for any insufficiency in legislature-provided funding (i.e. force the legislature to fully fund the
Citizens' Election Fund).
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 102-40-9 roll call #275 on 5/6 (Rep. Carter voted YES); passed Senate 24-10-2 sequence #282 on 5/2; signed by Gov. Malloy on 6/3/2014
Source: Connecticut legislative voting records: HB 455
May 6, 2014
Dan Malloy:
Require state government to use GAAP accounting principles
Minutes [ago], I signed an executive order which begins the process of requiring the state to keep its books according to GAAP principles. We require every city and town to do it, and now we'll require the state to do it.
You will hear a lot about reducing the size of government, from the size of my office, to the number of state agencies. And not just cutting for cutting sake, but re-conceiving government so that better decisions are made and implemented faster.
Source: 2011 Connecticut State of the State Address
Jan 5, 2011
Dan Malloy:
Cut state agencies by 28% and cut state workforce by 9%
I'm going to discuss three key areas that I believe we should focus on this year in order to balance our current budget, and also continue our progress towards long-term prosperity. - To start, we need to continue making state government leaner
and more cost-effective. Last year we cut nearly $850 million to bring our current fiscal year in balance. In so doing, we spent less in the General Fund than we had in the previous year for the first time since 2002. We've reduced the number of state
agencies by 28% since 2011--shrinking from 81 agencies down to 58. During that same time period, we reduced the size of our executive branch workforce by 9.5%. We now employ 5,000 fewer full-time employees than we did in 2008.
- The second area
are the obligations we have to Connecticut's state workers, educators, and retirees.
- The final area is how we go about distributing aid to our towns and cities--primarily how we fund public education.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Connecticut Legislature
Jan 4, 2017
Dan Malloy:
Fully fund the Citizens' Election Fund (public finance)
Legislative Summary: The Citizens' Election Program is a voluntary program which provides full public financing to qualified candidates for Statewide offices and the General Assembly. To participate, candidates must agree to abide by
certain guidelines, including contribution and expenditure limits and disclosure requirements. This voluntary public campaign financing program was designed to encourage citizen participation and limit the role of private money in the State of
Connecticut's political process. OnTheIssues Explanation: Changed the rules for funding the Citizens' Election Fund to make up for any insufficiency in legislature-provided funding (i.e. force the legislature to fully fund the
Citizens' Election Fund).
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 102-40-9 roll call #275 on 5/6; passed Senate 24-10-2 sequence #282 on 5/2; signed by Gov. Malloy on 6/3/2014
Source: Connecticut legislative voting records: HB 455
Jun 3, 2014
Jack Orchulli:
Won't accept a dime of special interest money
Chris Dodd stopped serving us long ago and has become just another career politician. I come to this race owing no favors, and I won't accept a dime of special interest money.
Source: Connecticut Republican Party website, CTGOP.org
Jun 22, 2004
Joe Visconti:
State & feds should pay for construction inspection failures
Insurance companies have denied homeowners' claims, saying the problem does not qualify for coverage, leaving homeowners to bear the burden of as much as $200,000.
According to a state report, a mineral known as pyrrhotite was present in the concrete aggregate used for the foundations that are now crumbling.
Source: Hartford Courant on Connecticut 2018 Gubernatorial race
May 8, 2017
Joseph Lieberman:
Public has right to know candidate's personal income taxes
LIEBERMAN: It is really necessary to have total transparency in people who serve in our government. Ned, will you release your tax returns to respect the public's right to know? LAMONT: I have done everything asked of me to respect the public's right
to know. We have submitted hundreds of pages of documentation on everything financial.
LIEBERMAN: He hasn't answered the question. I take it that he is saying he will not release his returns. I think that's an insult to the public's right to know.
Source: 2006 Connecticut Democratic Senate Primary debate
Jul 6, 2006
Joseph Lieberman:
Earmarks are great for Connecticut
LAMONT: Let me talk about that transportation bill with 6,341 earmarks. An earmark is a special piece of pork written by a lobbyist, submitted at the last moment. And it's wrong. It's legal, but it's wrong. If you're not shouting from the rafters that
this is wrong, then you're complicit and you're part of the problem. That bill also included the infamous bridge to nowhere.LIEBERMAN: We were all against the bridge to nowhere. But there are earmarks that are good. Is he against the earmarks I put in
the bill for $50 million to decrease congestion along I-95, or the money for ferry service from Bridgeport? Those are good earmarks.
LAMONT: Alaska gets 10 times what we do. We're not doing very well on that front. But more importantly, I think we
should outlaw these earmarks. They corrupt the political process. They are written by lobbyists & they're wrong. You support the earmarks, you work with the lobbyists, & that's what needs to be changed.
LIEBERMAN: The earmarks are great for Connecticut
Source: 2006 Connecticut Democratic Senate Primary debate
Jul 6, 2006
Mark Lauretti:
Opposed publicly finance campaigns, but will participate
Mayor Mark Lauretti has made it official: He's running for governor in 2014. To qualify for the state's public financing system, Lauretti will need to raise $250,000 in contributions of $100 from 2,500 people. Like many Republicans, Lauretti had
opposed establishing a system to help publicly finance campaigns when it began in 2008. However, he said it wouldn't make sense not to participate in the system as a statewide candidate. "I wasn't in favor it, but why wouldn't I use it?" he asked.
Source: Shelton Herald on 2018 Connecticut gubernatorial race
Jan 4, 2014
Matthew Corey:
Don't regulate union/corporate campaign contributions
Q: Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
A: No.
Source: Vote-Smart Connecticut Senate 2016 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2016
Ned Lamont:
Earmarks should be outlawed as lobbyist over-influence
LAMONT: Let me talk about that transportation bill with 6,341 earmarks. An earmark is a special piece of pork written by a lobbyist, submitted at the last moment. And it's wrong. It's legal, but it's wrong. If you're not shouting from the rafters that
this is wrong, then you're complicit and you're part of the problem. That bill also included the infamous bridge to nowhere.LIEBERMAN: We were all against the bridge to nowhere. But there are earmarks that are good. Is he against the earmarks I put in
the bill for $50 million to decrease congestion along I-95, or the money for ferry service from Bridgeport? Those are good earmarks.
LAMONT: Alaska gets 10 times what we do. We're not doing very well on that front. But more importantly, I think we
should outlaw these earmarks. They corrupt the political process. They are written by lobbyists & they're wrong. You support the earmarks, you work with the lobbyists, & that's what needs to be changed.
LIEBERMAN: The earmarks are great for Connecticut
Source: 2006 Connecticut Democratic Senate Primary debate
Jul 6, 2006
Ned Lamont:
Easier absentee ballots, early voting should be permanent
Voting is all about our children, and that's why elections do matter. Secretary of the State Denise Merrill gets a shout out for making it easier for us to
vote safely--and with integrity--during this pandemic. Voters appreciated the absentee ballots and early voting. We should make this permanent.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Connecticut legislature
Jan 6, 2021
Ned Lamont:
Let's make easier absentee balloting a reality for everyone
Your vote makes a difference. Four years ago, hundreds of voters in New Haven waited for hours in the pouring rain, clutching a soaked ballot in order to cast their vote. The last two elections, voters turned out in force because they could vote
absentee. Let's make easier absentee balloting a reality not just during a pandemic. Make it easier for voters to vote. I like people knowing they have a stake in the election, that their vote makes a difference.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to Connecticut legislature
Feb 9, 2022
Peter Lumaj:
Peter's Plan: require voter ID; end same-day registration
Peter will fight to return honesty and integrity to the Connecticut Secretary of the State's Office. Peter's Plan will tackle electoral fraud head on and return Connecticut's elections back to the people of our great state. Peter's Plan will cut through
the government red-tape and regulation that hurt our local small businesses and stifle economic growth.- Peter will work to create and issue a Voter ID to all qualified electors in Connecticut.
- Peter will work to eliminate same-day voter
registration in Connecticut.
- Peter will thoroughly investigate all allegations of voter fraud in Connecticut and hold all perpetrators responsible for their actions.
- Peter will fight against legislation calling for a constitutional amendment
allowing for "no-excuse" absentee balloting.
- Peter will fight against online voter registration and voting.
- Peter will fight to preserve, protect and defend the Connecticut Constitution and the Constitution of the United States.
Source: 2014 Connecticut Gubernatorial website Lumaj2012.com
Jul 4, 2014
Prasad Srinivasan:
Fully fund the Citizens' Election Fund (public finance)
Legislative Summary: The Citizens' Election Program is a voluntary program which provides full public financing to qualified candidates for Statewide offices and the General Assembly. To participate, candidates must agree to abide by
certain guidelines, including contribution and expenditure limits and disclosure requirements. This voluntary public campaign financing program was designed to encourage citizen participation and limit the role of private money in the State of
Connecticut's political process. OnTheIssues Explanation: Changed the rules for funding the Citizens' Election Fund to make up for any insufficiency in legislature-provided funding (i.e. force the legislature to fully fund the
Citizens' Election Fund).
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 102-40-9 roll call #275 on 5/6 (Rep. Srinivasan voted YES); passed Senate 24-10-2 sequence #282 on 5/2; signed by Gov. Malloy on 6/3/2014
Source: Connecticut legislative voting records: HB 455
May 6, 2014
Themis Klarides:
NO on funding the Citizens' Election Fund (public finance)
Legislative Summary: The Citizens' Election Program is a voluntary program which provides full public financing to qualified candidates for Statewide offices and the General Assembly. To participate, candidates must agree to abide by
certain guidelines, including contribution and expenditure limits and disclosure requirements. This voluntary public campaign financing program was designed to encourage citizen participation and limit the role of private money in the State of
Connecticut's political process.OnTheIssues Explanation: Changed the rules for funding the Citizens' Election Fund to make up for any insufficiency in legislature-provided funding (i.e. force the legislature to fully fund the Citizens'
Election Fund).
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 102-40-9 roll call #275 on 5/6 (Rep. Klarides voted NO); passed Senate 24-10-2 sequence #282 on 5/2; signed by Gov. Malloy on 6/3/2014
Source: Connecticut State Legislature voting records: HB 455
May 6, 2014
Themis Klarides:
Doesn't agree with Trump that 2020 election was stolen
A year ago, Klarides quickly distanced herself from Trump's claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.
She said Trump had the right to pursue all legal avenues contesting the election, but all failed.
Source: Hartford Business Journal on 2022 Connecticut Senate race
Jan 31, 2022
Tom Foley:
2010: criticized public campaign financing; 2014: accepts it
Foley has put the political establishment off balance at his exploratory announcement by saying he intended to qualify for public financing, a program Foley vigorously criticized in 2010.
And he accused Malloy of accepting improper payments from Dan Esty, the commissioner of energy and environmental protection, offering no evidence. Esty and Malloy deny Foley's claim.
Source: Connecticut Mirror on 2014 Connecticut Governor race
Nov 11, 2013
Tom Foley:
AdWatch: Complains about ethics, but was fined for PAC
Foley recently wrote an OpEd titled "Democrats exploited ethical loophole" (Dec. 26)--a hit piece designed to whitewash his ethically spotty record as a big-money Republican. The problems with Foley's OpEd are two-fold: first, his accusations of improper
fundraising are false; and second, Foley's own record flies in the face of everything he claims to hold dear.First, Foley's entire OpEd is based on the false notion that lobbyist & contractor donation standards were loosened in a law recently passed.
It's simply untrue.Foley also left out of his oped that he personally solicited contributions from lobbyists and state contractors as one of the main speakers at the Connecticut Republican Party's major annual fundraiser. It's either deeply cynical
or misleading to criticize others for doing something you've already done.
Foley was recently fined by the State Elections Enforcement Commission for improperly using a PAC to promote his candidacy for governor.
Source: Connecticut Post on 2014 Connecticut gubernatorial race
Jan 2, 2014
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023