OP-ED | Special Session Full of Assaults on Democratic Process
by Sarah Darer Littman | Jun 15, 2012 1:38pm
(13) Comments | Commenting has expired
Posted to: Education, Media Matters, Opinion, Bridgeport, Special Session
Warning to readers of this column who are fond of labeling me a Democratic Party apparatchik: have your smelling salts handy. Please ensure they really are smelling salts and not “bath salts,” because all the “zombie apolcalypse” human cannibalism stories are seriously bumming me out.
I was reminded of Alice through the Looking Glass as the Special Session unfolded this week.
In moving for passage of the Emergency Certification Bill calling for the special session, House majority leader Brandan Sharkey, D-88th District, said the “special session will be limited to bills needed to implement the state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 of 2012.”
I imagine when one has control of the Governor’s office, the House, and the Senate, one’s definition of what is actually needed to implement the state budget is significantly broader than the average Connecticut resident, party registration notwithstanding.
Take, for example, the language to exempt from the state’s Freedom of Information Act: “All records obtained by a state agency or a quasi-public agency related to a request for assistance from a business or organization seeking to expand or relocate to this state, provided the disclosure of such records could adversely affect the financial interest of the state, the business or organization.”
What is this, Soviet Russia? While I understand the need for businesses to protect commercially sensitive information, whoever wrote that clause was clearly aiming to provide the most shade against the necessary sunlight the press provides.
After the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information, a coalition of media organizations, raised objections with the administration, the provision was withdrawn from the bill, but not before we were treated to conflicting stories about both where the language originated and who actually decided to pull it.
But there were more assaults on the democratic process waiting in the bill. Clearly frustrated with the ruling by the State Supreme Court in February that its takeover of the Bridgeport Board of Education was illegal, the administration decided to use — how shall we phrase this? — “monetary persuasion” by attaching a provision that the city would not get a $3.5 million loan unless state education commissioner Stefan Pryor has a hand in selecting the candidate for Superintendent of Schools.
Time to reach for those smelling salts, folks. I’m in complete agreement with Senate Minority leader John McKinney on this one:
“We couldn’t take over the Board of Ed” but would now play a key role in approving the next superintendent in Bridgeport, McKinney said. “Now, we’re making an end-run. … I think everyone knows my brother has taught in the Bridgeport public school system for over 20 years. I know that section never had a public hearing … But we’re going to do it. Why? Because we can. Instead of being the most transparent administration, maybe it should be ‘we’re-going-to-do-it-because-we-can administration.”
Where was CABE, the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, in all this? One would think they’d be up in arms but the organization has been completely silent.
A Bridgeport resident emailed this late on Tuesday night:
“This is indeed a sad and tragic day for those of us who still believe in democracy. I would like to suggest that we consider holding a memorial service to mourn the death of democracy in Bridgeport and the state. It should also include a funeral march; along with remarks and speeches made by the friends of democracy.”
My 19-year-old son, who will be voting for the first time this November, expresses his disgust with both political parties, which he sees as driven by corporate interests rather than what is best for the nation as a whole. I can’t disagree.
I’m constantly reminded of the final sentence in George Orwell’s ANIMAL FARM: “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.”
Sarah Darer Littman is an award-winning columnist and novelist of books for teens. Long before the financial meltdown, she worked as a securities analyst and earned her MBA in Finance from the Stern School at NYU.
Tags: special session, connecticut, Democrat, soviet union, democratic process, Bridgeport, education, local rule, home rule, FOI, freedom of information, foia, Sarah Darer Littman, Sharkey, McKinney, alice through the looking glass, dh
(13) Comments
posted by: brutus2011 | June 17, 2012 2:36am
I have been opining for sometime about similar political shenanigans taking place in New Haven with the DeStefano Administration’s manipulation of New Haven Public Schools through his appointed school superintendent and other appointees.
Now in Bridgeport the Finch Administration has allowed the Malloy Administration to manipulate Bridgeport Public Schools as well.
CT General Assem Bill 06001 allowed this and many Democratic legislators voted this in including my favorite State Rep—much to my disappointment.
Anyway, our local and state elected and appointed leaders are displaying a growing tendency to act arbitrarily and not necessarily in the public’s best interest.
The takeover of our public schools is taking place right before our eyes and by the time most of us wake up it will be too late to stop those who have decided that they know what is best for the rest of us even if the rest of us don’t know it.
This is a subversion of our individual rights as sovereigns in our republic of Ct. and the USA.
What is happening to public education in our state and country is dangerous to our republic and our way of life.
Citizens wake up.
Tyranny lurks.
posted by: state_employee | June 17, 2012 9:02am
I’ve been a democrat my entire life. My family has always voted and supported democrats.
We are now a ‘family without a country’, so to speak.
I can no longer support the democrats here in CT. They have been an abomination to democracy.
It’s a very sad state of affairs here.
posted by: Count Pete | June 17, 2012 10:01am
Thank you for telling the truth about this disturbing situation. It’s not a matter of party or philosophy but procedure, and legislators must start by admitting that we have a problem, then rolling back some of the abuses which have accumulated over decades of one-party rule. Authority and responsibility should be restored to the committee, which exist to filter and to finish legislation, not to pass every notion on through the process for leadership to control. The implementors should be treated as technical documents, not a place to stuff proposals that didn’t make it through the process. The constitutional limits of state authority and divisions of government must be respected. The people and the press can drive this restoration, if they pay attention and speak up—thank you for doing so in this column.
posted by: Greg | June 18, 2012 10:20am
The legislators and/or governor are not to blame for this; the voters are to blame. Period.
How many members of the legislature have been there for more than two terms? Who put them there and conveniently turn a blind eye come November when they have to fill in the bubble next to the D candidate time after time; and at a regional\national level, the R candidate because that’s all they know. This is representative democracy at its finest.
Despite the heavy hand and bullying of the Malloy administration, the expensive pet projects forced through the legislative process, the back room deals made with zero disclosure and resulting abhorrance of public policy…who wants to bet that the voters, author of this fine piece included, will re-elect the SAME PEOPLE BACK INTO POWER? In the state of CT, they will have a D next to their name and nothing will change.
Want change? Vote the bums out. Force the legislature to impose term limits. Keep the revolving door at the capital building moving as new blood comes in and subsequently goes right back out. Maybe then we’ll get some decent and thoughtful policy from representaives that can’t be bought.
In the meantime, I won’t hold my breath.
posted by: Noteworthy | June 18, 2012 11:48am
Awesome - And you only used three examples. There are so many more. I didn’t need smelling salts - this was a breath of fresh air.
posted by: RE-Windsor, CT | June 18, 2012 5:54pm
LOL
Let me help you understand. Total power corrupts—totally. We have a Governor, Legislature, and most of governent run by a Democratic Apparatchik. What do you expect?
They are secure in the fact they overwhelmingly win elections. The press overwhelmingly supports them and seldom questions the political moves they make. The corporate welfare—if it was a Republican administration—SHould be vilified for what it is… Jobs-mail. Think about it you have to PAY people to bring jobs to CT. Am I the only one that sees the problem with that.
The RYO hurts not the wealthy, but the poor, the very people that the Democratic majoarity is supposed to be “helping”. Why was it passed. To show Donovan was not on the take. Please.
I own a small business send me $100K like Jackson Labs, and I will create a guaranteed 4 years job!
Wake up and smell the DD Coffee CT. It is time to change the legislature before all is lost. We are so close to the precipice.
posted by: saramerica | June 18, 2012 6:21pm
Don’t be so sure about the author of this fine piece. She is fed up to the back teeth with politicians in general. It is tempting to say a pox on both of your houses and go back to my basement and concentrate on writing fiction. Unfortunately, I care too much about what happens to the country I leave for my teenage children, so I feel a responsibility to continue fighting. The problem I find is to know who is worthy of my vote these days. I’m tired of the “vote for X candidate because he/she is the least worst” philosophy. That got us Malloy. Foley wouldn’t have been any better. He’s wasn’t even willing to entertain increased taxes which is unrealistic when you have a budget deficit. But IF the Republicans had an old school Republican (ie/fiscal conservative, social moderate - the kind who would never survive in the national GOP these days) I would consider voting for a Republican. Unfortunately it seems like the GOP strategy is to tack in the direction of the national party, which personally I think is insane.
posted by: GoatBoyPHD | June 19, 2012 7:13am
None of these people speaking about Democracy support direct referendums or school vouchers.
Dmoecracy, like everything else, is in the eye of the beholder.
posted by: Matt W. | June 19, 2012 12:18pm
The dirty little secret here is that you can “vote the bums out” all you want and it will never change a thing. Until you address the fact that the power to bring legislation too the floor is concentrated in a few people, you will never affect change or achieve a truly representative form of government.
posted by: RE-Windsor, CT | June 19, 2012 12:29pm
@Goat… School Vouchers are anathema to teahcers and the Education Bureacracy for fear of a mass exodus. It could happen but find a this article interestingly refreshing. Rolling Back Government: Lessons from New Zealand: sub heading: Subsidies, Education, and Competitiveness [http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis/archive/issue.asp?year=2004&month=04]. In this article the ‘public’ school portion of the student population declined for several years, and then shockingly INCREASED! Why? Ponder that one. Those of us understanding economics and human behavior should know the answer.
@Saramerica, I have written that the great unaffilated class of voters are a huge problem for the Republicans more so than the Democrats. I am a socially moderate fiscal conservative, but to win a primary I must be a social conservative fiscal conservative becasue all the moderates left the party to become unaffiliated voters. Then they complain that the party is too socially conservative. Really what did you expect? The social conservatives would suddenly become moderates. No they become empowered pushing further to the right. Saramerica join me in trying to move the party.
posted by: saramerica | June 19, 2012 1:39pm
RE- my disaffection with the R’s began before I moved to the UK in late 80’s when Falwell et all seemed to be gaining influence. By time I returned to US in 1999, party had moved so far right on social issues I felt I had to change registration. I couldn’t imagine changing back while the party continues to celebrate anti-intellectualism and disregard science, as well as promote policies that are damaging to women’s rights and health - while being afraid to even use the biologically appropriate names for a woman’s reproductive organs. I often didn’t agree with William F. Buckley but one could always appreciate the intellectual rigor of his arguments even if you didn’t agree with him.
posted by: Matt W. | June 19, 2012 3:24pm
Funny, I’ve never heard anyone claim to be a fiscal liberal and yet I live in a state that in one day is reported to have the second highest income tax and worst funded pension liability. I must have been mistaken about the definition of fiscal conservatism. It must actually mean: to spend like one’s hair is aflame and the price of water buckets just went up.
posted by: THREEFIFTHS | June 19, 2012 3:37pm
@ GoatBoyPHD | June 19, 2012 7:13am
None of these people speaking about Democracy support direct referendums or school vouchers.
Dmoecracy, like everything else, is in the eye of the beholder.
School Vouchers are a scam.Look what happen in Milwaukee’s school voucher Program.
April 9, 2011
Milwaukee’s school voucher scam
Filed under: Vouchers — millerlf @ 11:40 am
JOEL McNALLY | state columnist | Posted: Saturday, April 9, 2011 6:45 am
http://millermps.wordpress.com/2011/04/09/milwaukee’s-school-voucher-scam/