The Office of State Ethics Citizen’s Board Chairman, Kenneth Bernhard, resigned today after it was revealed that he made contributions to the campaigns of Governor Rell and two other republican candidates in 2008 agains the rules of the agency.
read more ››Ethic’s Board Chair Resigns
March 4th, 2010Ethics Board Chair Admits Wrongdoing - Agency Lobbies for Legislative Changes
March 1st, 2010Office of State Ethics Chairman Kenneth Bernhard admitted wrongdoing last week when he was found to have made contributions to Governor Rell and a couple of State House candidates back in 2008. In other OSE news, the agency is busy getting underway with the 2010 legislative session.
read more ››Office of State Ethics’ 2009 CT State of Lobbying Report an Insight into the Lobbying World
February 3rd, 2010The Office of State Ethics released its 2009 Connecticut State of Lobbying Report this week and with it, revealed glimpses into the lobbying world. Some of the numbers are indicative of the public policy debates taking place here in Connecticut and indeed, around the nation.
read more ››Disclosure Double Standard
January 26th, 2010If we are truly to be the state where ethics is a priority and government transparency is paramount, the legislature must pass legislation giving the Office of State Ethics the authority to level the playing field and regulate them as strictly as they do the lobbying community.
read more ››State of Confusion - Clean Elections Program Awaits Court Decision
January 15th, 2010Ever Since the Clean Elections Program law was put into effect, Connecticut has been trying to figure out how to implement it and what it means. Now the court is trying to sort it all out. The constitutional issues and practical application issues are immense.
read more ››Honesty and Integrity in the Political Community
November 20th, 2009I attended the Biennial Ethics Conference yesterday at the Legislative Office Building hosted by the General Assembly, the Office of State Ethics and the CT Humanities Council. The guest speakers were both previous NCSL leaders and past legislators, Peggy Kerns and John Adams Hurson.
read more ››To go to trial or not to go to trial - is that really the question?
November 16th, 2009After so many major ethical scandals in Connecticut, it does feel like the OSE Board is trying to prove that they CAN use the trial provision of the statute rather than show that they SHOULD use it. Then again, as an enforcement agency they don’t always have the luxury of picking a choosing what they can enforce.
read more ››Connecticut’s Gubernatorial Race Starts in Earnest Today
November 10th, 2009Governor Rell announced yesterday that she would not be seeking re-election. Many at the capitol had predicted that the Governor would not run again in 2010 but the news was still had the feeling of surprise.
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