“Why now?” Sen. Harding on Attempt to Alter Composition of 54-Year Old Bipartisan Committee

Sen. Stephen Harding issued the following statement regarding his opposition to a bill proposal which would alter the composition of the bipartisan Legislative Regulation Review Committee.

“Why are supermajority Democrats doing this?

And why now?

Established in 1972, the Legislative Regulation Review Committee is the only committee with an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. It ensures that state agencies do not exceed their legal authority. It ensures that proposed regulations do not conflict with state and federal law. It is an invaluable check on Executive Branch overreach.

This legislation upends that dynamic. It changes the bipartisan makeup of this committee which has worked so well for 54 years.

It is not lost on me that another controversial legislative proposal could potentially allow the health commissioner to implement vaccine standards without the traditional regulatory review process. There is no good reason whatsoever to empower a single individual, the health commissioner, with broad and unchecked powers to create vaccination schedules and dictate the decisions of so many Connecticut residents. Yet this proposal would do exactly that, removing the regulatory review process that normally ensures policies are vetted, balanced, and fair.

If that proposal’s language is altered due to the overwhelming pushback from the public which led the Public Health Committee to cut off debate and silence people’s voices, the regulatory review process might not be removed.

This would put the Regulation Review Committee in the spotlight regarding the highly controversial vaccine issue. The committee would no longer be balanced as it assesses regulations impacting our freedoms and liberties, parental rights and individual rights.

So I urge supermajority Democrats: Don’t put government’s thumb on the scale.

Don’t let power be abused.

Vote no on this power grab bill.”