By vetoing a bill that would have shifted control over the planning of state land around the state Capitol from the state to the city Hartford, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy made clear that he doesn’t appreciate surprise efforts to limit executive authority.
“I object to this reduction of executive input and authority into the development of the Capitol Center District, considering that the vast majority of state property in that area is dedicated to use by executive branch agencies,” Malloy said in his veto message.
Malloy indicated that his administration was not consulted in legislative effort to dramatically reconstitute the Connecticut Capitol Center Commission.
“I invite proponents of this bill to discuss with me in the future how to best configure the Commission to ensure that the relevant stakeholders are given an appropriate level of input and authority,” he said.
The commission now is chaired by the secretary of the state Office of Policy and Management and has 5 representatives of the executive branch, six from the legislature and 3 from the city of Hartford.
The vetoed bill would have designated the mayor of Hartford as chair, increase the city’s representatives to six and cut the executive branch’s contingent to two.
The bill was one of two veto announcements today. The other was a bill to provide tax breaks for development around Oxford Airport. Malloy said that with all state airports being placed under the control of a new authority, it was premature to grant special breaks to one airport.