HARTFORD-House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) and State Rep. Devin Carney (R-Old Saybrook), House Ranking Member of the Government Oversight Committee, released the following statement Tuesday following action from the Government Oversight Committee's advancement of bills aimed at improving government accountability:

"Connecticut residents have had a front-row seat to a troubling series of headlines, including a school construction bribery scandal, a federal investigation into state funding set aside for nonprofit organizations, an upcoming Medicaid fraud trial, and a college system chancellor who burned through taxpayer dollars on lavish spending while collecting a $400,000 salary. Concerns about the lax vetting of budgetary earmarks have only added to the frustration. Today's action by the Government Oversight Committee contains some positive news that frustrated taxpayers deserve, advancing legislation that includes Republican concepts to improve transparency and accountability in state government. It's critical that Republican proposals remain a central part of this reform effort, because the abuses and controversies that made change necessary in the first place are the direct result of lax oversight by the Lamont administration."

Republican lawmakers this session have offered a variety of proposals to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in state government, including the re-establishment of the Program Review and Investigations Committee and elements of earmark reform covered by legislation from the Lamont administration.