Reopening state calls for public scrutiny

At a time when our state government is asking so many of Connecticut residents and businesses to accept government’s intentions to deal with a sweeping lifethreatening virus, the state must provide transparency and openness in return.

At least 102,757 workers are officially out of work, having formally filed for unemployment in our state, as of April 18. That is fully 21 percent of the entire workforce, and the second highest percentage in the country. For months on end the unemployment numbers ticked between 3.5 percent and less than the 4 percent economists universally agreed upon was, in fact, full employment.

Now, overnight, Main Street Connecticut is shuddered and our friends and neighbors are hurting in these tremulous times. Gov. Ned Lamont should respond accordingly, by offering unfettered access to the decision-making process of the Re-Open Connecticut Advisory Group. This is a body that has been given broad authority to determine the economic future of millions of our citizens and our state’s future.

This appointed body must adhere to all the Freedom of Information Act requirements of any other publicly created entity, regardless of the makeup. Currently those safeguards are not in place.

Instead, he’s allowing these conversations to happen behind closed doors, without adhering to public information laws. Shrouding this exercise in secrecy should be deeply troubling to anyone concerned about how we enact public policy in this state.

This is a dangerous precedent, one I’ve challenged over and over again from this governor and his administration. I will continue to demand maximum transparency, and openness from state government.

The public, and our business community must feel like decisions that affect them and their families and their livelihoods are being made in the light of day, not in the darkness of a back room.