ProteCT Public Lands (Connecticut)

Come November 6, on the ballot in Connecticut will be a referendum question for an amendment to the state constitution: it would require that before any state land could be conveyed (sold, traded, ...) to a non-state entity, a hearing must be held, and, in the case of land under the control of DEEP or the Department of Agriculture, would also require a 2/3 supermajority vote in the legislature.

Info: About – Protect CT Public Lands

Presently the legislature can dispose of land at its whim and whimsy, regardless of any deed language, regardless of public opinion, and regardless of the intent of the donor (as many state parks and forests came about via land donations from families). The CT poli-critters have a bad habit of making back-room deals and sneaking dead-of-night end of session amendments into bills, and often these concern public lands. The point of this amendment is to require a modicum of transparency and honesty, which is presently missing.

Can't this be done by means other than amending the state constitution? Well, no. These conveyance bills typically contain verbiage which would essentially nullify prior legislation or house/senate rules.

The amendment enjoys broad bipartisan support: it passed the state senate unanimously and the state house by a vote of 118 to 32. Side note: of those 32 nay votes, 23 of them were from Democrats representing urban districts.

Anyway, the concern is that as a (likely) "page two" question (back of the ballot), a lot of people won't know about it, or if they do, won't understand what it's looking to do (and may vote no cuz constitutional amendments are scary). Therefore, a "get out the vote" organization - Protect CT Public Lands Coalition, Inc. - has been formed to do some advertising and outreach.

If you are a Connecticut voter, please find the question wherever they put it on the damned ballot and fill in the YES bubble. Ask your hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, ..., friends to do likewise. And if you have a few dollars free, consider chucking some at the Coalition.

 

This now has a ballot position - it's Connecticut Question #2.

In Connecticut, vote yes on Question #2.