LWVCT Supports Changes to the State Code of Ethics (HB 5403) 3/8/10

  

 

 

 

CGA Government Administration and Elections Committee

March 8, 2010 Public Hearing

 

Comments Submitted By Christine S. Horrigan, Government Director

 

Support for:

HB 5403 AAC REVISIONS TO THE CODE OF ETHICS

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            I am Christine Horrigan, Government Director for the League of Women Voters of Connecticut.  Thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony in support of HB 5403, AAC Revisions to the Code of Ethics.

            The League of Women Voters of Connecticut believes that the public should have confidence in the integrity of its government.  Government officials and employees should be held accountable for carrying out their duties in both an effective and ethically responsible manner.  To accomplish these ends, we support efforts to reform, strengthen and clarify Connecticut’s Code of Ethics for Public Officials, as well as measures to ensure the existence of a strong, independent and effective Office of State Ethics.

            The League supports the changes contained in HB 5403 generally; however, we believe that certain provisions merit special consideration.

·        The League believes that the changes contained in Section 2 of HB 5403—staggering the term of appointments to the Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board, permitting CEAB members to continue serving beyond their terms for the limited purpose of adjudicating at a board hearing, and requiring prospective members to certify their awareness of special restrictions placed on board members—are crucial to the effective functioning and governance of the Citizen’s Election Advisory Board.  Without these changes, the CEAB may face periods where it is unable to function due to a lack of a quorum and individuals subject to disciplinary action may “game” the system by stretching out the hearing process until the expiration of the term of one or more members of the CEAB.  Excluding justices of the peace and notary publics from the term “public official” will allow such individuals to serve on the CEAB and make it easier to fill vacancies. 

 

·        The League supports expanding the conflict of interest provisions under the Code of Ethics for Public Officials to include the term “other employer” as proposed in Sections 6, 13 and 14 of HB 5403.  Public officials and state employees must be prohibited from using their positions to financially benefit their other employers if the public is to have confidence in the integrity of its government. 

 

·        The League also supports adding state employees to the lobbyists’ reporting of gifts as proposed in Section 21 of HB 5403.  Lobbyists should be required to disclose gifts to state employees as a means of instilling public trust in government and ensuring transparency and accountability.  This is particularly important given the widespread scope of administrative lobbying.

While the League supports HB 5403 in its entirety, we believe that the above provisions in particular will promote the smooth functioning of the Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board, expand the pool of potential candidates to serve on the board and increase transparency and public confidence in our government. 

            Thank you again for the opportunity to submit written testimony on this bill.