The Connecticut Senate voted to confirm Marissa Gillett’s reappointment as a Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) commissioner despite the Senate Republican caucus walking out of the chamber and refusing to vote on the nomination in protest.
Led by Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding, Brookfield, the Senate Republican conference announced in a press conference prior to the Senate session that they would send an “unprecedented message” by walking out of the chamber and refusing to vote on Gillett’s nomination. Harding said the caucus would “not be complicit in what is going on here,” referring to a backroom deal negotiated between Gov. Ned Lamont and Democrats to advance Gillett’s nomination through the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee (ELN).
The deal saw Lamont and legislative leaders agree to expand PURA’s board to five commissioners, as is required by state law, and move the agency from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s control, in exchange for approval to advance Gillett’s nomination to the legislature.
Gillett’s PURA tenure has been marked by controversy, including allegations Gillett was using an executive secretary’s signature to rubberstamp thousands of decisions without input from other commissioners. Both Eversoure and Avangrid have issued cease and desist letters against PURA as a result.
Gillett’s renomination was approved by the House of Representatives on April 9.
During the Republican press conference prior to the Senate session, members of the caucus emphasized the role Lamont had played in the deal to advance Gillett. Harding called the governor’s “direct role” in the deal “wrong beyond words” and said Republicans would not allow their constituents’ vote to be complicit.
That sentiment was echoed by. Sens. Eric Burthell, Watertown, and Jeff Gordon, Woodstock, who also spoke during the press conference. Gordon said Senate Republicans were “the ones in this building being adults.” He added that Republicans have made serious proposals to address Connecticut’s high electricity rates but Democrats have continuously ignored them.
Harding also stated that Democrats’ actions over the past 30 years have shown they’re “not willing to do anything” about electricity rates and the only thing they were demonstrating by voting to renominate Gillett was a willingness “to create jobs on the backs of ratepayers.”
Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, introduced Gillett’s renomination, seemingly addressing Republicans by reminding “members of this circle” that she was nominated for her first term by a nearly unanimous vote. He also emphasized moves taken by PURA under Gillett’s leadership, calling rate reductions Gillett has overseen “unprecedented” and calling her a consumer advocate.
“I urge my colleagues to vote for this nominee not because she’s been there but because she has earned that right.” Duff said.
Harding spoke after Duff to object to Gillett’s nomination.
“We could be standing here today and having a substantive discussion on the chief regulator for electric rates in the state of Connecticut. And we should be. It’s our job.” Harding said.
Harding referenced a part of the deal to move Gillett’s nomination through ELN that would give Sen. John Fonfara, D-Hartford, a seat on PURA’s board of commissioners, noting that Fonfara, who recused himself prior to the Senate’s vote on Gillett, was a key vote in moving her through the committee. Harding said Republicans asked for a pause to the nomination hearing in order to get answers but those requests were ignored.
“I refuse to stand here and allow my constituents to be complicit in this and say this is okay.” Harding said on the Senate floor.
“This comes down to the institution. It comes down to procedure and it comes down to being honest and forthright with our constituency. And myself and my Senate Republican colleagues will not be complicit in this on the backs of the ratepayer.” Harding added. He also emphasized that accusations about PURA came from multiple reputable media sources.
Republicans walked out of the chamber following Harding’s speech.
Sen. Slap, D-West Hartford, also spoke in “defense” of Gillett. He said he wasn’t sure if he was going to speak but felt compelled to do so after hearing Harding’s remarks. Slap also highlighted Gillett’s “good” track record, including court records, rate increases, and actions to spread out the public benefits charge. A similar message, painting Gillett as a consumer advocate, was echoed by other Democrats who spoke in favor of Gillett.
“She has been and is being used as a scapegoat for high energy prices and that is intellectually dishonest for anyone who is pushing that narrative.” Slap stated. Slap also said Gillett deserves to be reappointed independent of an “alleged” agreement between the governor’s office and legislators. He further stated any deal that existed had no bearing on his vote and he did not believe it should have a bearing on anyone else’s vote.
Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, also spoke in favor of Gillett. Anwar stated that while people were angry about high electricity prices and pointing fingers at one individual was an “easy solution,” it did not mean it was the right solution. Anwar spoke at length about elements of utility bills that are not regulated by PURA, pointing to outside decisions that he said contribute to high electricity costs. He also suggested that energy companies are opposed to Gillett because her actions are hurting their bottom lines.
Senate President Martin Looney, D-New Haven, directly addressed Harding’s remarks on the deal between lawmakers and Lamont during comments supporting Gillet. Looney said he categorically rejected any connection between Gillett’s renomination and any other issues and was “deeply outraged” by the “quid pro quo insinuation.” Looney added that he was never a part of that discussion and that he and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, R-Norwalk, were committed to Gillett early on.
Looney continued that he believed any discussion between Lamont and legislators about PURA expansion and who might be appointed to the board went on independent of the ELN vote.
“I believe strongly that the governor strongly supporting his nominee could get the votes for that nominee independent of that discussion.” Looney stated, adding that he believed the vote would have been roughly the same if Lamont had asked Democrats to vote for Gillett at his request.
Senate Democrats voted unanimously to renominate Gillett.
Speaking after Republicans walked out of the chamber, Harding suggested that the deal between Lamont and legislators to advance Gillett’s nomination through ELN might be illegal and could be appealed to the federal government.
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