It is not uncommon for the state to seek the lowest responsible bidder when it’s in the market for goods and services.
But as it turns out that approach is not used when Connecticut needs to purchase a new American flag to display on public property.
A bill requiring that all American and state flags flown on public property be made in the good old U.S. of A. has been making it’s way through the legislature. Demand for American flags was so high after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that foreign companies began producing them, and some folks find that troublesome.
Like all bills, this proposal has a “fiscal note” attached so lawmakers can understand the potential impact on the budget i.e. would Connecticut have to spend money swapping-out a bunch of foreign-made flags for the real deal?
But according to the fiscal note, several years ago state government made a decision to only buy flags from companies whose product is manufactured in the United States, regardless of whether that is the cheapest approach.
Now, as for that flag your kid pledges allegiance to every morning in school or the flag your city council salutes before every meeting …
