House Republican Press Release

March 28, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Hetherington Sees Threat in Bill to Establish Legislative Intelligence Oversight Committee

“Could Compromise our Security”                     

HARTFORD – State Representative John Hetherington, Republican Leader on the Legislature’s Government Administration and Elections Committee (GAE), expressed deep concern over a bill approved by the GAE committee that would create a 12 member legislative committee to oversee the Department of Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security. The committee would have access to all documents of the department, including those relating to coordination with Federal authorities.

"We continue to deal with terrorists and I am very concerned about comprising our security. I question whether Federal authorities will share information and strategy with us if they know that everything is subject to view by committee and who knows who else. There isn't even a requirement of confidentiality," said Rep. Hetherington one of the four Republicans who voted against the bill.

Currently, the legislature has a committee with full investigative authority, the Program Review and Investigations committee. The bill creates a new and distinct committee, due to investigations prompted by Mr. Ken Krayeske’s arrest during the governor’s inaugural parade.

Mr. Krayeske is a political activist who was arrested and jailed after he approached the inaugural parade route of M. Jodi Rell and attempted to take pictures of her as she celebrated her recent election as Connecticut's governor. Police apparently were on the lookout for Mr. Krayeske, who had been placed on a list of people who posed threats to the governor.

Rep. Hetherington said the Krayeske case is repeatedly cited as prompting this bill. "This was an unfortunate incident, but I understand that all charges against Mr. Krayeske have been dismissed and he has the right to pursue a civil action for damages. So the system works. This bill is an extremely disproportionate response to a relatively minor incident and it raises a real danger for all of us. I hope we don't have an occasion to regret it."

“The staff hired for the committee should be professionals and not simply sessional or part-time staff.  Subject matter that is of the utmost in secrecy should be protected and the state should take the appropriate steps to ensure private material is kept out of the public’s view. The Program Review and Investigations committee staff is professional researchers unlike other legislative committees,” said Rep. Hetherington. 

Legislative Program Review and Investigations serves as the General Assembly's "watchdog" over the executive branch of the State government.   The committee is a bipartisan statutory group consisting of twelve members.  

By law, the committee is charged with the duty of examining "... State government programs and their administration to ascertain whether such programs are effective, continue to serve their intended purposes, are conducted in an efficient and effective manner, or require modification or elimination."

The committee is further mandated by statute to report to the General Assembly and to make administrative and legislative recommendations or procedures, inaccuracies, waste, extravagance, unauthorized or unintended activities or programs or other deficiencies ... " existing in any agency or program investigated by the committee."

In addition, the committee is authorized to conduct investigations on "any matter" when requested by a joint resolution of the General Assembly or when the legislature is not in session, by a joint standing committee, or at its own initiative, subject to the approval of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management.

Representative Hetherington (R–125) represents almost all of New Canaan and the southwest corner of Wilton.