House Republican Press Release

April 14, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. Labriola Urges Bipartisan Support for Republican Ethics Reform Proposals

Participates in News Conference on Measures Supported by House, Senate GOP Legislators

The state legislature should act as soon as possible to pass an ethics reform package that is supported by most legislators and Governor Rell, state Representative David K. Labriola, R-131^st District, said today.

“The time for action is now. There is no reason to play politics with this critical issue. The people of Connecticut want their trust in government restored. This package of reforms will do just that. Let’s get it done,” said state Representative David K. Labriola, R-131^st District, a member of the Government Administration and Elections (GAE) Committee, where a measure (House Bill 5507) similar to the Republican proposal originated. 

House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr. of Norwalk, Senate Republican Leader John McKinney of Fairfield, GAE Committee members, and other GOP legislators who took part in a news conference today, called for swift action on the proposals in the wake of last week’s legislative meltdown on proposed new ethics laws. Representative Labriola, who voted for the bill in committee, participated in the news conference as a member of the GAE Committee.

The proposals discussed at the news conference, which incorporates measures important to Governor Rell and the legislature, would:

• Provide for pension revocation or reduction for elected officials, and state and municipal employees convicted of a crime related to their official duties. The measure calls for the attorney general to petition the court to take the legal action.
• Make failure to report a bribe a Class A Misdemeanor, if a public servant (which includes state employees and elected officials) knew or should have known a bribe was being offered to them or another public servant.
• Bar chiefs of staff at the state legislature from soliciting campaign contributions from legislative caucus staff for state, district or municipal races. It also would prohibit the governor’s and lieutenant governor’s chiefs of staff from soliciting contributions from members of their respective staffs, including commissioners and deputy commissioners. The same prohibition would apply to chiefs of staff for statewide elected officials such as the Secretary of the State.
• Require ethics training for newly-elected officials and refresher courses for incumbents every four years.

Restrict future employment with state contractors for one year for state employees or officials who played significant roles in awarding state contracts to such contractors.