CT House Speaker Warns Lawmakers Not To Drink On The Job

CONNECTICUT — The Connecticut House Speaker said he has admonished lawmakers about excessive drinking at the state Capitol complex.

The warning came almost a week after the legislative session was interrupted when Branford Rep. Robin Comey had difficulty speaking on the floor.

"I’m not going to downplay this," Hartord Rep. Matt Ritter said. "I have on multiple occasions had to talk to the caucus or individuals in my office. There are lines you cannot cross and if somebody ever left this building and injured somebody or themselves, I can't even begin to think about what those consequences would be, and I don't want them to happen on our watches in leadership. To say that this is being taken seriously is an understatement."

Comey issued an apology on Wednesday: "I would like to sincerely apologize for my behavior last Thursday night. That evening, while speaking on H.B. 6558, I suddenly and unexpectedly began to feel unwell. This was due to several factors, including anxiety, exhaustion, and, regrettably, the wine I had with dinner. In an abundance of caution, I did not drive home and remained in Hartford until the following morning."

Ritter said he did "not want to get into specifics," and that there may have been health care related issues involved, "but what I would say at the end of the day is, we take it very, very seriously"

The speaker told reporters Wednesday that "the incidents are a little more isolated, maybe not as widespread as some might think," but that the legislature expected people "to be adults, to understand the consequences of their decisions."

Coronavirus pandemic restrictions have enabled lawmakers to avoid the Hall of the House for the most part, and cast votes from their laptop computers. Ritter said the relaxed attendance rules likely contributed to a looser atmosphere in Hartford.

"When you have very few people around, and you have a lot of idle time, and the ability to vote from your office, yeah, that probably has contributed to it a little bit," the speaker said.

But understanding should not be confused with tolerance, Ritter warned:

"If it happens again, there will be significant consequences associated with it," Ritter said.