§ 1-a. Legislative declaration. The legislature hereby declares that
the operation of responsible democratic government requires that the
fullest opportunity be afforded to the people to petition their
government for the redress of grievances and to express freely to
appropriate officials their opinions on legislation and governmental
operations; and that, to preserve and maintain the integrity of the
governmental decision-making process in this state, it is necessary that
the identity, expenditures and activities of persons and organizations
retained, employed or designated to influence the passage or defeat of
any legislation by either house of the legislature or the approval, or
veto, of any legislation by the governor and attempts to influence the
adoption or rejection of any rule or regulation having the force and
effect of law or the outcome of any rate making proceeding by a state
agency, and the attempts to influence the passage or defeat of any local
law, ordinance, or regulation be publicly and regularly disclosed.