Senate republican caucus walks out of vote to reappoint chairman of PURA

HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) - For the first time ever, the entire senate republican caucus chose not to vote.

Today’s vote was to reappoint the chairman of PURA, who oversees the utility companies.

Right before the senate went in to take up the nomination of PURA Chairman Marissa Gillett, senate republicans stood outside and said they were not going to vote.

They said they could not take part in something they believe is corrupt.

They are accusing Governor Lamont of making a backroom deal.

They say Lamont made that deal with democratic Senator John Fonfara.

They say to get Fonfara to support Marissa Gillett they promised him a high paid position on PURA’s board.

“It is nothing short of corruption as to what is going on here today with Marissa Gillett, the chairwoman’s vote on the Executive Nomination Committee. The governor’s office played a significant role and a direct role in making that happen. It is wrong beyond words, and we will not allow our constituents vote to be complicit in the deal that has gone on here,” said Senator Stephen Harding, (R), Minority Leader.

Harding said his entire caucus would not be voting on something which he hinted might be illegal.

However, democrats had the votes they needed. Marissa Gillett passed the senate today. She has already passed the house.

As for Senator Fonfara, he is on the Executive Nominations Committee.

Earlier this month, he was on the fence on Gillett’s nomination. In the 11th hour, there was an agreement to give him a high paying position on PURA’s board.

When it came time to weigh in today, Fonfara didn’t vote.

“Madam president, on this matter, I recuse,” he said.

Governor Lamont’s director of communications said, “senate republicans can disagree, but the facts are clear: Chairman Gillett is the most experienced, qualified person to ever serve on PURA. There was an agreement to put legislators from both parties on PURA.”

As for Chairman Gillett, she said, “I look forward to continuing my service on behalf of the state and its ratepayers moving forward.”

When asked if there was any corruption as republicans are accusing, Democratic Senator Bob Duff said, “they’ve asked for a lot of information; they’ve received the information in a very timely way. If there is anything that I think they thought was wrong, they would have brought it to everyone’s attention.”

Senate democrats say a war has been waged against Gillett. They say she has held the utilities accountable.

Several republicans say they were planning to vote against Gillett regardless of the situation with Fonfara.

Fonfara is having a press conference tomorrow on a bill to reduce electric bills.