The state Capitol is crawling with lobbyists representing just about every special interest under the sun. But according according to some activists, one voice is missing: that of the people.
So they started a "Constitution lobby" to advocate on behalf of citizens. The group says it is a non-partisan network of like-minded activists whose only agenda is protecting the rights outlined by the state and federal Constitutions.
The goal, says Estelle B. Stevenson, the real estate broker who serves as the group's chairman, is to "to get the legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch to understand their first obligation is to protect the rights of the people that the Constitution guarantees.''
UPDATE: Former Courant political columnist Michele Jacklin emails me to note that the "Constitution lobby" won't be the first group to lobby the legislature on behalf of citizens seeking to protect their constitutional rights. The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut has long employed a lobbyist at the Capitol for the purpose of standing up against encroachments to people's civil liberties.
Stevenson said she envisions the new group to develop a network of citizen watchdogs to monitor government on all levels and make sure the rights guaranteed by the Constitution are not being infringed upon. The group was registered as a lobbyist with the state in June.
One of the Constitution Lobby's first issues is researching whether "ex-post-facto legislation" such as a new set of tax hikes that take effect today but are retroactive to Jan. 1, are constitutional.
While the group says it is non-partisan, it has already won plaudits from the Connecticut Tea Party Patriots. "We are very excited to officially have a lobbying group by and for 'We The People,' and dedicated solely to the ideals of the Constitution,'' the tea party group stated in its summer email to supporters.
Stevenson says that while all elected officials swear to uphold the Constitution when they are sworn into office, they often forget that pledge once they begin to govern.
"Our founders charged us with eternal vigilance,'' she said. "It's up to the people to keep an eye on government. We dropped the ball and stopped paying attention to what they were doing. We're just trying to get us back to the kind of government that the founders gave us.''
