Sometimes in government stalemate is bad and sometimes it is good.
The stalemate over this year’s state budget is clearly bad. It only delays until tomorrow difficult decisions that should be made today. By delaying the hard work that needs to be done we could actually be making matters worse. This is obvious to everyone except those who have brokered the stalemate as part of a general election strategy.
The second big issue that went nowhere at the Capitol this year is ethics reform. For the fourth consecutive year, the legislature failed to get a final agreement on a series of bills that would make Connecticut’s ethics laws among the toughest in the nation. Some would argue we are already there, but a persistent minority of legislators continues to push the boundaries.
After 10 years of scandal that has forced a number of well-known politicians out of office and in some cases into prison, there has been no shortage of reactionary ideas designed to make Connecticut politics squeaky clean.
Two Sets Of Rules
The issue with the highest profile on the reform agenda is pension revocation for corrupt politicians and state employees. Revealingly, that issue broke down this session when some Democrats argued that corrupt elected leaders should be treated under a different, harsher set of rules than state employees, who in the view of some may have a contractual right to be corrupt.
But the move toward pension revocation was also derailed in part by the view among some Democrats that the legislature is using the issue to seek revenge. State representatives Bill Dyson, Terry Backer, Jack Malone and others all stood up during floor debate to argue the ethics issue has been taken too far. That it has gone beyond a debate over policy, toward an attempt by some legislators to seek extra-judicial punishment against politicians who have already paid a price through the court system.
There is also the glory that comes from publicly cutting up the political corpse of a once powerful foe. One Democrat asked his colleagues when “punishment became a virtue?” When did lawmakers begin to think, or realize, that the way to build up their own reputation on ethics was to punish — and never stop punishing — the disgraced.
Other remaining ethics proposals left on the table are incomplete, such as one that prohibits legislative and gubernatorial chiefs of staff from engaging in fundraising on state time. It can be argued such behavior is already against the law, but part of the game at the Capitol has always been to find a way around laws written to restrain partisan activity. This proposal would only push such behavior further down the organizational chart. It would not end it.
A Reform Breather
With a new citizens’ elections commission and a system for the public financing of campaigns in place, perhaps it makes sense just to let all this reform set in for a while before pushing further. Maybe we need a reform breather.
The organization of our government into three branches is designed not only to get things done, but to stop others from happening. The legislature is supposed to reflect the voice of the people, but it is also meant to be a brake on mob rule.
On the issue of ethics reform in Connecticut, it is possible that we are not seeing a breakdown of the system or a failure to move forward. It could be that the system is saying that’s enough for now. Let’s come back to this issue again when emotion can be put aside.
In this case, stalemate may be just what we need.
Dean Pagani is a former gubernatorial advisor. He is V.P. of Public Affairs for Cashman and Katz Integrated Communications in Glastonbury.
