To The Editor:
It is my policy not to respond to editorials, but the complete absence of fact and mean-spirited nature of “An Ethical Absence,” August 6, 2007, is in need of a response.
Everyone is entitled to his opinion, but that does not give any of us a license to create facts – even paid opinion writers – as you have done to support your personal bias, which has been evident since the formation of the Office of State Ethics (OSE).
Your suggestion that I or the OSE lack responsibility, effectiveness and accountability is simply not true. Some basic research on your part would have uncovered at least some of the significant accomplishments of the agency in just 18 months:
Tough and fair decision making: In over 30 meetings, the Board has issued 16 advisory opinions, not one of which has been appealed.
Repaired a dismantled electronic lobbyist and conflict of interest filing system: The OSE inherited a completely broken down electronic filing system for lobbyists, key state employees and elected officials. The OSE not only had the electronic systems up and running before the 2007 filing deadlines, the agency came in $250,000 under budget – money that was returned to the state.
Comprehensive education system: The OSE has trained over 2,270 state employees, legislators, lobbyists, municipal leaders and others in person on the Codes of Ethics.
Efficient legal assistance: The OSE attorneys have eliminated an inherited backlog of requests for opinion, issued 839 staff opinions and drafted 16 Board opinions. Moreover, the OSE lawyers field an average of 37 telephone inquiries daily.
Creation of efficient and responsible enforcement division: The activities of the enforcement division are largely confidential by statute (further leaving your “ineffectual” claims baseless – if the division were pursuing action on any case you mentioned, neither you nor I would know about it because of the law. It is disconcerting that this fundamental legal point seems to have gone over your head.) Publicly it has been announced this division has initiated 30 new matters for investigation. An additional 11 investigations were opened as a result of citizen complaint, and 11 separate prosecutions have been initiated by the division itself.
Lobbyist audits: The audit department has completed 19 comprehensive audits of lobbyists, something that had not been done in decades. Your publication has made significant use of these reports, citing that a “…13 page audit shows how very serious the OSE is about audits” in an April 16, 2007, article by Jonathan O’Connell.
The “shame” that you referred to in your piece belongs to you as a professional journalist. You do your readers a great disservice by not undertaking the minimal research required to provide them with accurate information. You ask about my “ethical compass.” Where is yours in this regard?
It is difficult to comprehend how, in light of the above, I or the OSE could be considered “ineffective.” Your assertions are simply irresponsible and unbalanced, rendering you “ineffectual” as a responsible journalist.
Benjamin Bycel
Executive Director
Connecticut Office of State Ethics
