Malloy, Executive Power and the Politics of Appeasement
In preparation for the Connecticut General Assembly’s 2015 constitutionally required veto session, Democratic legislative leaders announced yesterday that no votes would be taken on whether to sustain or override the nine bills vetoed by Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy during this year’s legislative session.
The most noteworthy of the bills that the Democrats are unwilling to bring up for a vote isPA 15-176, which was House Bill 6977, AN ACT ESTABLISHING QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.
The legislation requires that any person serving as Connecticut’s Commissioner of Education have an appropriate education degree and teaching experience.
The legislation arose in response to Governor Malloy’s decision to name Stefan Pryor, a charter school founder and corporate education reform industry advocate, to be his first commissioner of education, despite the fact that Pryor had no educational experience.
Stefan Pryor’s performance as Malloy’s Education Commissioner led both Democrats and Republicans to call for legislation requiring future leaders of the state department of education to have the requisite education experience.
The General Assembly’s Education Committee held a public hearing on House Bill #6977 and went on to pass the legislation by a vote of 32 – 0.
At no time did Malloy or his administration testify against the bill or publicly announce any opposition to the concept.
The bill went to pass the Connecticut State Senate by a vote of 36 – 0 and the Connecticut House of Representatives by a vote of 138-5.
In the end, only one Democratic legislator voted against the bill.
With its passage, HB6977 become Connecticut Public Act 15-176.
But despite the overwhelming level of support displayed for the bill by the Connecticut General Assembly, Governor Malloy vetoed the legislation.
And now, in a disturbing and rather pathetic effort to appease Governor Malloy, the Malloy, Executive Power and the Politics of Appeasement - Wait What?:
