Gov. Malloy: Resolve to Be Transparent – Republican-American

Opinion: Connecticut Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo, in office since 2011, has distinguished himself with his quests to make state government more transparent. Notably, Mr. Lembo, a Democrat, spearheaded laws that give taxpayers closer looks at Connecticut’s general fiscal health and the state’s spending on economic development.

During an interview for the Republican-American’s “2015 Newsmakers” series, the comptroller said he is proud of his work. “Transparency has got to be a value for government in and of itself,” he said succinctly, adding that openness is a key to reversing the public’s declining trust in government. Unfortunately, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, also a Democrat, doesn’t share Mr. Lembo’s commitment to transparency. For the sake of Connecticut, the governor would be wise to make a New Year’s resolution to do more to make state government accessible. [Read More]

Whistleblower’s Lawsuit: Retirement System Rife With Politics, Pro-Union Bias – Hartford Courant

By Jon Lender

When the state’s chief auditors said on June 17 that many government retirees may be receiving undeserved disability pensions costing millions, they based their report on the allegations of a “whistleblower” they didn’t name.

But now the whistleblower — Virginia Brown, a staff attorney in the office of state Comptroller Kevin Lembo during recent years — has surfaced as the plaintiff in a new federal court lawsuit against the state that claims the Connecticut’s government pension system is rife with political favoritism and heavy influence by state employee unions.

Brown seeks damages in an unspecified amount greater than $15,000, saying she was ostracized and a victim of retaliation by superiors at the comptroller’s office because she spoke out against irregularities and improprieties, and wouldn’t compromise in her determinations of what state law requires.

“Defendants repeatedly and consistently retaliated [Read More]