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Monday December 29, 2008

It’s a lot of money for a golf game, for a certain strata of wealthy developer, it’s just the cost of doing business.
The Office of State Ethics just announced a $2,000 settlement with Robert V. Matthews, the New Haven developer, now residing in Florida. The penalty was for failing to file as a lobbyist registration and “for entering into a contract that was contingent upon the outcome of a lobbying effort.” It dates back to the fall of 2000, after Matthews agreed to register Pinnacle Foods,Inc. for stock shares in return for his contacts with state officials who could procure funding for the company.
“Matthews, a friend of Governor Rowland, lobbied the Governor during a golf outing,” the OSE announced today, although the agreement was signed in mid-November.
Matthews, citing a 25-year friendship with the crooked former governor, said he was unaware that what he did was illegal.
“You do not have to show up in the halls of the Capitol building to lobby,” said OSE Executive Director, Carol Carson. “If you are attempting to influence legislative or administrative action, you are lobbying.”

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Friday December 26, 2008

Even though she’s in Colorado today on a family vacation, Gov. Jodi Rell announced that Laura Grondin of Haddam is the new chairwoman of the Connecticut Development Authority. On October 21, Grodin, who has served on the CDA board for about a year, hosted a Rell news conference at the Rocky Hill-based Virginia Industries, where the Yale graduate is president and CEO.
She succeeds L. Scott Frantz as the unpaid chair of the commission. Frantz was election to the state Senate last month.
“Laura Grondin understands and is deeply committed to CDA’s mission of promoting business expansion, creating jobs and helping Connecticut maintain a strong business climate,” Rell said in a statement. “Her experience, her perspective as a CEO and her long-standing commitment to the business community are all valuable assets in her new role.”
The CDA offers debt financing and investment capital to state businesses.
According to FollowtheMoney.org, Grodin contributed $250 to John G. Rowland’s 2002 election campaign and $2,500 to Rell in 2005. The first check to Rell was written on December 13, 2005 and the second was $2,200 written on December 30th of that year.

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Monday December 22, 2008

Gov. Jodi Rell today announced that state employees donated more than six tons of food for the 25th annual Care and Share Campaign, plus $11,000 in contributions for the Connecticut Food Bank and Food Share.
Should you be donating food and money to those organizations, also?
“That spirit has always been brightest in tough times,” Rell said in a statement. “The national recession has clearly made this year one of those tough times. I could not be more proud of Connecticut employees for helping truly make this a holiday from the heart.”
A $5 donation can feed five adults for a day and $10 can get food to two senior citizens for five days.
There’s still time to help those programs before the end of the year.

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Wednesday December 17, 2008

The cubby holes and office warrens on the fourth floor of the Legislative Office Building are a lot more quiet today, as the newly bloated Democratic House majority is gathering a few blocks away at the historic Lyceum building to discuss their plans for the cashless venture that will be called the General Assembly session of 2009.
Maybe this is a good year to say it’s a retreat, after all the years of hefty spending increases. It certainly won’t be an attack, or a march of the 114 House Ds, in 2009. At best, it’ll be treading water. Many of the state budget lines will be very happy to retain flat funding over the next two years.

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Tuesday December 16, 2008

Forget having a General Assembly delegation. Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch this morning announced that one of the usual Capitol suspects – Gaffney, Bennett and Associates – will be the city’s Hartford lobbyists this year for a cool $55,000.
All the mayor needs is the City Council to go along with the idea.
The Blogster wonders why the cash-strapped mayor didn’t hire an extra teacher or. sanitation worker, who could actually DO SOMETHING for the city’s taxpayeres, instead of strutting around the halls of the Capitol pretending you have juice.
According to a release from Finch’s office, eight requests were received for the contract.
“The group was narrowed down to three finalists, and of the three,Gaffney, Bennett was strongest bipartisan firm,” the release said. “The firm also has strongcontacts with both Governor Rell and the legislative leadership in both Houses.”
Thre previous contract was held by Robinson and Cole Government Relations for $50,000.

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Monday December 15, 2008

Denise Merrill,the veteran state rep from Mansfield who will be the next House majority Leader, just held a news conference introducing her leadership team. Unfortunately, she announced new Deputy Majoriuty Leader Ernie Hewett, D-New London, as “Ernie Newton,” the former Bridgeport lawmaker who’s still in federal prison on corruption charges.
Oops.
“Oh God I did it again,” Merrill said. “I can’t believe I did that. Sorry”
Hewett: “Don’t worry, everybody gets it wrong.”
The Blogster: “My work’s done here.”

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Monday December 15, 2008

It’s 12:21 and Connecticut’s seven members of the Electoral College just put their ballots into a small wooden box purportedly made from the historic Charter Oak tree. The seven votes include one for each of the five congressional districts, plus the two senators.
And unlike what you thought happened on Election Day, it’s what is occurring right now that’s assuring Barack Obama will be the next president.
Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz just asked the electors to sign the statement of vote in a particularly legible manner, because they’re heading to the National Archives.
Nick Pandiris, a well-know Glastonbury Democrat, was chosen to lead the voters. A native of Greece, He said being an elector (he was recommended by Democratic State Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo of Trumbull) was a particular honor.
Although they’re eligible for $10 a day as electrors, it’s traditional that the electors turn down the cash, which they just did at 12:37..
“As an immigrant, I came here in search of the American dream,” he said. “It is especially fitting, as a son of Greece, the cradle of democracy of 2,500 years ago, to be able to cast a ballot for the leader of the greatest democracy of this planet.”.

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Friday December 12, 2008

Veteran Sen. Bill Nickerson, R-Greenwich, one of the most articulate, humorous voices for financial reason, peformed one of his last functions today before retiring from the General Assembly.
Appearing on the State Bond Commission, the former long-time ranking member of the legislative Finance Committee said that after 22 years, he’s proud of what he’s done, but it’s time to move on.
Rather than claim any credit, he suggested that lawmakers in his position ask themselves one question: “Was the state in a better place because we got here?”
After the commission’s meeting, Rell took questions, as usual from reporters. Asked whwether she would support GOP State Chairman Chris Healy, up for re-election next year, the governor said yes.
“He’s done a good job,” said Rell. Healhy has recently been critical of Rell. “We have to talk about how we can grow our party. I don’t want to sugarcoat it. We got beat in the election. We need to build a bench. I think we’re all in this together.”