Ken Dixon's Blog-O-Rama

Monday June 30, 2008

U.S. Rep. John Larson, a former state Senate President, was up in the state Capitol today during an aptly named congressional recess, to announce that he filed federal legislation in attempt to help consumers on oil prices.
He was literally singing the blues, when he decided to stumble over the name of iconic bottom-line investor T. Boone Pickens, when Larson instead called him “T.Bones Pickens” as if the multi-billionaire were an old Mississippi Delta guitarist, or Nashville music producer.
Speaking about the long-shot schemes to expand arctic drilling, Larson said “Even T. Bones Pickens, for God’s sakes says no we can’t drill our way out of this problem.”

Monday, June 23, 2008 It’s 10:20 a.m. and the…ah…SPARSE House has kicked off its veto session and recessed, while Democratic majority whips work the phone in attempt to remind caucus members they’re needed if Gov. Jodi Rell’s veto of the minimum-wage bill is to be overcome. Rep. Bob Godfrey, D-Danbury, was acting speaker at gaveled the chamber in at 10:05. Before him, in the 151 seats, were exactly four lawmakers, including Rep. Chris Caruso, D-Bridgeport, House Minority Leader Larry Cafero, R-Norwalk and House Majority Leader Chris Donovan, D-Meriden. Rep. Frank Nicastro, D-Bristol, was there to lead the chamber in the pledge of allegiance. There were five quick voice vote on House rules, payment of expenses and such. Nicastro may have been concerned about Cafero’s possible opposition of the rules, so when Godfrey called for a voice vote, Nicastro loudly screamed “Aye” in favor. No opposition materialized. “The chair appreciates the enthusiasm of the chamber,” Godfrey said dryly, with a twinkle in his eye. So now, if majority leadership can’t round up enough Democrats – at least 101 are needed for the override and the caucus has 107 on a good day – look for them to find some blow-up dolls to fill the seats, kind of like those people who cheat on the high-occupancy-vehicle lanes. If the D’s can’t come up with the bodies, it’s going to be pretty embarrassing in an election year.

Wednesday June 18, 2008

During this morning’s bill-signing event on the Capitol’s north steps, Gov. Jodi Rell again donned the cloak of reformer that has been her chief public image, even though she spent more than nine years as Johnny Johnola Rowland’s lieutenant governor.
Whatever makes state voters feel comfortable, Blog-o-rama guesses.One reporter at the event asked Rell whether she was signing for “cash discounts.” That was a jkoing riff on the bill, signed earier in the week, to allow gas stations to offer lower prices for cash.
Any reference to cash is bound to make any Connecticut pol nervous, though. Remember that $5,000 the undercover FBI agent offered now-former state Sen. Lou DeLuca?
That moment must have sent an electric charge up Sweet Lou’s spine.
Anyway, Rell the Reformer picked up on the reporter’s joke. “Don’t even MENTION cash discounts on an ethics bill,” Rell responded.
Rell is infamous among reporters for too often using the word “frankly” to punctuate nearly every public statement.
The Blogster wonders whether her handlers have tried to ween her from the term, or if it’s terminal. As a rule, Rell may be the least spontaneous governor since, maybe, Bill O’Neill.
Anyway, she was on the WTIC A.M. morning show the other day and during a 10-minute interview, Blog-o-rama noticed only TWO uses of “frankly.” That could be a personal best.

Friday June 13, 2008

It seems like an unlucky day for the Democrat’s Healthcare pooling bill, which has been on legislative Death Row for the last three weeks.
Today’s the last day for Gov. Jodi Rell to act or it goes into law.
It’s 11:10 a.m. and Blog-o-rama just encountered the governor walking across the Capitol’s second floor from her office, along with two members of her State Police security detail and spokesman Chris Cooper, legal pad in hand. She was heading to her legal office, where presumably she was going to review the last draft of her veto message.
Asked whether she was going to veto the bill, which would open up the state-employee healthcare program to towns, cities, small businesses and non-profits, the governor said “I don’t know.”
Well it’s a little late for “I don’t know” and it’s doubtful she would have wandered personally to confer with her lawyers if the governor was planning on letting the bill become law.
So the Healthcare-pooling death watch has begun.

Wednesday June 11, 2008

Too bad the heat isn’t as oppressive today as yesterday. Then we could have hoped for a power outage in the Capitol to punish the lawmakers who have ridden their high horses back today for an oh-so-very-special session, cleaning up work they should have completed by May 7.
Every time the Blogster drives along Elm Street, he sees 10 or 12 DEP employees on the sidewalk huffing cigarettes. Unlike the TV and print ads that apparently inspired their nasty habits 30 or 40 years ago, these less-effective state workers look old and tired.
Speaking of old and tired, the entrance to the Capitol’s north side is stinking like cigarettes again because the General Assembly is back offering lip service to voters – yeah it’s an election year. It’s approaching noon and the extent of accomplishment is a few dozen ciggies have been inhaled and the Thomaston High School baseball team has been honored.
Meanwhile, the ethics-reform bill is still on a high wire, awaiting Gov. Jodi Rell, or someone like her, namely Lisa Moody, her chief of staff, to sign off on the current compromise form.
It’s almost noon and time for caucusing the various bills that will turn one of the year’s nicest days into a long morning’s slog into the evening and beyond. But first, Senate Democrats will do what they do best: enjoy a free buffet as they sit and compliment each other on their “leadership.”

Tuesday June 10, 2008

Leave leave it for the ever-optimistic Working Families lobbying group to stage an event for a lost cause on the hottest day of the year.
They still think, bless their little starboard-leaning hearts, that the special session tomorrow is going to include the paid sick time legislation that was approved in the Senate but died in the House on the last day of the session May 7.
Their little event today, featuring a little clothesline with infant clothing hanging, was promoting legislation that is DEAD, even though House leaders may have tried to assuage their disillusionment on May 8 by saying they’d consider it for the special session.

Monday June 2 2008 It’s mid-afternoon and by now, everyone who remotely cares about this interminable presidential race, knows that U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton has told select staff to fill out their final expense vouchers. So most likely, the sinuses of the junior senator from New York have finally opened up enough to smell the nearly burnt coffee. Another sign that Clinton’s campaign has reached the end of the trail is that Nancy DiNardo of Trumbull, the down-the-middle state Democratic chairwoman, has announced she’s backing U.S. Sen. Barack Obama for the party nomination set for the last week of August in Denver.”Senator Barack Obama has helped to energize thousands upon thousands of Democrats in Connecticut and across the country,” DiNardo said Monday in a statement crafted out of Democratic state headquarters in Hartford. “He has inspired the electorate and won their confidence by demonstrating sound judgment, strength of spirit, dedication to those in need, and belief in the transforming power of community.” Blog-o-rama will spare you most of the rest of her boilerplate statement. “Senator Obama has built his campaign on an appeal to the deep-seated goodness of America,” she gushes, “the goodness that all Americans intuitively understand.” So I guess that makes Obama the Intuitive Candidate. The final count among Connecticut’s so-called super delegates: Obama 10, Clinton 2.