“Gov. Lamont’s decision to exempt his recently-formed Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group from Freedom of Information laws is unacceptable and should be reversed. The Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group is tasked with making decisions that will impact the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands – possibly millions – of people across our state. Those for whom the Advisory Group’s decisions mean the difference between financial survival and ruin don’t sit on the council; yet surely they have as much right as the rich and powerful to understand exactly how those decisions are being made. Hiding the information and decision-making process that inform the advisory group’s recommendations from those it affects most is insulting, counterproductive, and treats the people of Connecticut like subjects, rather than citizens.
It is vital that the people of Connecticut have trust in state government to make the right decisions for the right reasons during this unprecedented time. Trust comes only with transparency. Gov. Lamont should immediately correct this damaging mistake.“
Statement attributable to Carol Platt Liebau, President of Yankee Institute
