Sen. Cicarella & GOP Lawmakers Call for CT Government’s ‘Candy Store’ to Close

Sen. Cicarella & GOP Lawmakers Call for CT Government’s ‘Candy Store’ to Close

Calls for Transparency and Accountability Reforms to Protect Taxpayers

(Watch the press conference here.)

HARTFORD — State Sen. Paul Cicarella (R–34) joined House and Senate Republican leaders call for a legislative package aimed at ending what lawmakers describe as a “culture of corruption” in Connecticut state government.

“Taxpayers should never feel like their money is being handed out behind closed doors,” Sen. Cicarella said. “Spending must be transparent, accountable, and focused on serving the public not political interests. It’s time to restore confidence in how Connecticut manages hard working taxpayer dollars.”

Republicans are proposing the following anti-corruption legislative reforms:

Establish Standards for Third-Party Funding Recipients, Vetting for Bonding and Budget Requests

• Require all budget and bonding earmark requests to be publicly linked to the legislator or organization making the request before funds are granted, including a certification that the requesting legislator, their family members, or any associated business has no financial interest in or will benefit from the grant.
• Mandate that organizations receiving state budget funds or bond funds disclose how money will be spent, including the share dedicated to administration versus programming, the number of people served, program goals and progress, and a detailed Return on Investment (ROI) analysis.
• Require financial statement filings, a full accounting of all income sources and disbursements, disclosure of any officer or board member convictions related to financial crimes or fiduciary breaches, and full disclosure of any close associations with current legislators, government staff, or other elected officials.
• Require that when grant recipients pass funds to third-party or subsequent recipients, those recipients must identify all such parties, the specific amounts granted, and be bound by the same transparency and reporting requirements as the original recipient.
• Direct state agencies responsible for disbursing these funds to report annually on fund status and usage, and subject grant recipients to random state audits to verify funds are used as intended.

Establish an Office of Inspector General (Civil)

• Will investigate fraud, waste and abuse in the expenditure or use of state resources.
• Review Auditors’ reports on Agencies and investigate findings of fraud, waste and abuse.
• Intake complaints, including from whistleblowers.
• Seek civil recovery of funds.
• Refer cases to state/federal authorities.

Strengthen Oversight and Empower the State Auditors

• Require physical site visits for housing and human services providers receiving $25,000 or more in state funds
• Set performance and accountability standards in order for state agencies to be able to renew contracts
• Require additional review of findings identified in audits where only a sample of transactions were reviewed
• Grant subpoena power to the Auditors of Public Accounts.

Restore the bipartisan Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee

• Connecticut once had a powerful, bipartisan watchdog committee that held state government accountable — independently investigating agency performance and uncovering waste and mismanagement.

Treasurer Fiduciary Reform

• Establish an Investment Board to share fiduciary responsibility with the state treasurer for state investment.

Housing Funding Reform

• Require the Department of Housing (DOH) to identify specific projects and terms of any agreements to the state Bond Commission prior to receiving allocations of state bond funds.
• Require DOH and CHFA to compile and report dollars loaned and leveraged for housing projects and the process and “scorecard” for each project that led to an award.

Require FOIA/UAPA training for PURA Commissioners and Staff

• Requiring commissioners and staff to undergo training on the Freedom of Information Act and the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act — the laws governing public records and agency conduct — ensures those entrusted with regulating Connecticut’s utilities follow the rules.

Deposit volatility funds in a timely matter

• Connecticut’s volatility cap fund exists to protect taxpayers. Recent actions by the State Treasurer to withhold the deposit of these funds exposed a dangerous loophole. Require the Treasurer to deposit volatility funds within 30 days, ensuring these reserves are managed with integrity.

Provide House and Senate minority leaders appointments to Siting Council

“These are practical, common-sense reforms,” Sen. Cicarella said. “They put real safeguards in place to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, transparently, and with proper oversight. Connecticut residents deserve a government they can trust, and that means closing the ‘Candy Store’ and restoring accountability.”