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Governor M. Jodi Rell today signed into law the capstone of her four-year effort to reform state government ethics and restore accountability and public faith in the way their state is run. “Welcome to a new day in Connecticut,” Governor Rell said this morning as she signed House Bill 6502, An Act Concerning Comprehensive Ethics Reform on the north steps of the Capitol – the same location where she first took the oath of office on July 1, 2004. “Nearly four years ago, I stood on these steps and pledged to restore integrity to Connecticut’s government,” the Governor said. “I said that this is the people’s government – and that we would create an ethical system of government that would make our residents proud to call Connecticut home. We began the work of reforming our government amid painful and difficult times. But we rolled up our sleeves and started working to restore the public’s faith and trust. “I made ethics a focal point of my Administration,” Governor Rell said. “I worked to bring about campaign finance reform, clean contracting reform and ethical reform. With my fellow Constitutional Officers and our partners in the Legislature, we have changed the ethical landscape of this state. And Connecticut can now proudly and rightfully lay claim to the toughest ethics laws in the country.” The bill signed by the Governor today includes compromise language that allows a judge to reduce or revoke the pension of a state municipal employee who is convicted of on-the-job corruption. It also makes it a crime to fail to report a bribe, bars the chiefs of staff of the legislative caucuses and statewide officials from soliciting campaign contributions from staff and prohibits the chiefs of staff for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor from soliciting contributions from commissioners and deputy commissioners. In addition, the bill makes a Governor’s spouse a public official for the purposes of the ethics code and limits gifts to public officials and public employees for major life events from non-family members. “These provisions are common-sense reforms that will hold our governments to a higher standard,” Governor Rell said. “And I am joined today by several of our mayors and first selectmen in order to emphasize that ethical conduct is expected of all public employees. That is what the people of Connecticut expect and deserve. “We can never forget that public office is a privilege and an honor bestowed upon us by the citizens we serve,” the Governor said. “In this participatory government – in this greatest form of government on earth – we do indeed represent the will of the people who elected us. They have a right to hold us to the very highest ethical standards – and we have a duty and an obligation to live up to those standards.” © Copyright by NorwalkPlus.com. Some articles and pictures posted on our website, as indicated by their bylines, were submitted as press releases and do not necessarily reflect the position and opinion of NorwalkPlus.com, Norwalk Plus magazine, Canaiden LLC or any of its associated entities. Articles may have been edited for brevity and grammar. Related Articles: Passage of ethics bill a major step forward for Connecticut - Jun 12, 2008 - 3:35:55 PM Governor Rell: make certain to include ethics reform in June special session - May 30, 2008 - 12:36:00 PM $9.5 million settlement with pharmacy benefits management company - May 27, 2008 - 1:01:47 PM Secretary of the State urges lawmakers not to miss historic opportunity - May 13, 2008 - 1:57:23 AM CURRENT HEADLINES: Top of Page
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