News
Governor Rell: make certain to include ethics reform in June special session
By Governor Rell's office
May 30, 2008 - 12:36:00 PM

Governor M. Jodi Rell today urged legislators to make certain the upcoming special session includes compromise ethics reform legislation that would allow a judge to reduce or revoke the pension of state or municipal employee who is convicted of on-the-job corruption.

Governor Rell today wrote all legislators, reminding them that similar legislation – Senate Bill 333 – had the support of Senate Democrats, Senate Republicans and House Republicans during the regular session that ended May 7.

“The time has come for us to justify the faith and trust that the people of our state have placed in us,” Governor Rell said. “For four years my Administration, the General Assembly and the other Constitutional Officers have worked together to transform the ethical landscape of state government. This bill represents the final major step of that process. It contains strong, common-sense provisions that have long been demanded by the residents of our state – chief among them, allowing judges to reduce or revoke the taxpayer-paid pensions of corrupt public officials and employees.

“Other important reforms could be lost if the Legislature fails to act in a timely fashion,” the Governor said. “This bill will make it a crime to fail to report a bribe, will bar the chiefs of staff of the legislative caucuses and statewide officials from soliciting campaign contributions from staff and prohibit the chiefs of staff for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor from soliciting contributions from commissioners and deputy commissioners. The bill also makes the 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.

“Connecticut residents want these reforms,” Governor Rell said. “They rightfully expect their elected leaders and representatives to work together to see that these common-sense measures are passed into law. I look forward to swift passage of the compromise bill during the special session and will quickly sign it into law.”

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