17 Crawford Road
Westport, CT 06880
203-226-8710

Chairman Andrew O’Keefe
18-20 Trinity Street
Hartford, CT 06106
November 29, 2005

Dear Chairman O’Keefe,

            I want to file an official Freedom of Information complaint against the Legislative Commissioner’s Office, Marcia Goodman, the executive director, Attorney Larry Shapiro, and the Connecticut General Assembly.
            On November 29, 2005, I requested of Attorney Shapiro a copy of draft legislation pertaining to Campaign Finance Reform. Atty. Shapiro acknowledges that a draft exists, but he is unable to give it to me, under current procedures dictated by the legislature. He told me it is protected by client/ attorney privilege. I explained to him that since the public and individual legislators are aware of this pending legislation and that it has received a great deal of press, surely it ought to be public information. I also suggested that as a legislator, a ranking member on the committee of cognizance I should be able to have a copy. He told me the information would not be available until the person whose name will be on the bill, files it. I questioned the process, and asked to speak with Marcia Goodman, who in essence gave me the same story.
            I am bringing this complaint because the legislature formerly had an open process, where by committees were formed, committees met, committees decided what legislation would be put together, committees determined how the legislation would be drafted, and go to a public hearing. All these meetings being held in full view of the public.
            Now the legislature appears to be acting under a cloak of secrecy, to the point where only certain people are privy to what is happening. Unfortunately, this is not new for the legislature, but it has gotten increasingly more common to circumvent the process. Under the guise of special sessions and emergency certified bills, the committees do not meet, legislation is not drafted with committee input, the public is not a part of the proceedings and the public does not have the opportunity to participate in the hearings. In other words, the public is the big loser. They have no idea what the Connecticut General Assembly is about to do.
            The denial today, to share draft legislation on an issue that could  bring about major systemic changes to our electoral process, is the final straw. The people of this state have the right to an open government. The draft legislation should be available to everyone. It appears our legislature is moving back to an age where deals are being made in the backroom, the public be damned, and doing the public’s business in the light of day, is out of fashion.

           
Sincerely,

Judith G. Freedman