Ken Dixon's Blog-O-Rama

Wednesday November 121, 2008

State auditors today ripped the facade off the vaunted state Department of Consumer Protection. First, the auditors found that receipts, both mailed-in and so-called walk-ins, have not been deposited within 24 hours, as required by law.
Next, the auditors found that civil penalties totaling $538,000, were not put into the department’s accounts-receivable records.because of “internal control weaknesses” in the DCP legal department.
“The department agrees with the auditors’ findings in this regard and has taken steps to implement this recommendation,” the DCP responded.
The Blogster’s favorite, though, was the finding that a probe into timesheets indicated “numerous” occasions when supervisors did not sign off work records until “well” after a pay period.
“The timeframe in which both the employee and the supervisor signed the official timesheet ranged from eight to 80 days after the completion of the biweekly pay period,” the audit report says, adding that they couldn’t determine why.
The DCP plans to implement a new centralized time and attendance system.

Friday November 7, 2008

The Blogtser yesterday journeyed to Amherst to speak with an upper-level class on political psychology.
He was slightly disappointed that no one among the 20 students was sure the amount of marijuana people will now be allowed to have under the state’s initiative question that decriminalized small amounts of weed. (It’s less than an ounce, by the way)
But maybe they’re so wasted on student loans they don’t have indiscretionary funds.
It seemed like the perfect venue to launch a not-so-hare-brained theory that Ned Lamont, the Greenwich millionaire who won the Democratic Senate primary against Joe Lieberman in 2006, is responsible for Barack Obama’s presidential victory. Sure, Lamont dropped off the face of the earth after Lieberman went his own way and won the 2006 general election under the banner of Connecticut for Lieberman.
But here’s the theory:
If there had been no primary challenge, Lieberman would have gone back to the Senate majority caucus and continue life as a mostly Democratic lawmaker.
Instead, Lieberman, miffed that Connecticut Ds didn’t love him anymore, moved farther to the right and even started campaigning for his buddy John McCain. It clearly got to the point where McCain wanted to anoint Lieberman (who lost the vice presidency as Al Gore’s 2000 running mate) as his running mate heading into the GOP National Convention. Party insiders told McCain he’d have an embarrassing walkout of delegates if he did that.
So McCain, channeling his famous temper, said OK, fine, you want someone to energize the fundamentalist base? Let’s run Gov. Palin against Joe Biden. After all, she knows where Russia is.
The rest of the story is rock ‘n’ roll.Thanks Ned!

Wednesday November 5

This morning in the state Capitol many top state Democrats gathered to bask in their national and state victories of last night.
What’s the only thing worse that 107 House Democrats? How about 114. That’s how many we’re going to have for the next two years.
One of the notable GOP House members bounced out of office was Rep. Al Adinolfi, R-Cheshire, who made the “three strikes” issue such a big deal following the horrific triple murder in Cheshire back in 2007.
Many Democrats thought he used the tragedy to push for a tougher law on repeat offenders that wsn’t needed. Indeed, both of the alleged murderers wouldn’t have been in prison, prior to the murders, for their previous offenses even if the state DID have life in prison for third-time violent offenders.
The Blogster’s trying to decide whether it was three strikes and Adinolfi was out, or if he couldn’t hit the high hard one thrown by his district’s voters.
Anyway, so the Ds were not quite gloating in the Capitol’s Old Judiciary Room this morning when a reporter asked U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd what’s on HIS agenda. Dodd, he of the 4.23-percent “Friend of Angelo” mortgage deal from Countrywide, couldn’t help but waffle. On one hand, in an Obama administration, he really feels like he should stay as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. But you know, Joe Biden’s leaving to assume the vice presidency creates such a tempting vacancy on the Foreign Relations Committee.
“Until last evening I wasn’t sure if there would be choices,” Dodd said. “My intention, probably and I want to wait a couple days to decide, is to stay with the Banking Committee…The financial issues here at home and across the country are paramount… I haven’t made my mind up yet. I’m going to take a couple days to make a further evaluation.”
Sounds like a guy who’s eager to get out of the Banking Committee and jump into the international sandbox.
So like a good pol, Dodd was quick to get out of the room before the follow-up questions got too personal. He started walking away for an alleged plane flight, when a reporter reminded Jim Himes, 4th District congressman-elect, that during a recent debate he called for Dodd to present “full disclosure” on his mortgage deals. Would Himes like, the reporter asked, to reaffirm his call for Dodd’s disclosure?
Himes was brief.
“I think it’s important that things be as transparent as possible and I trust Sen. Dodd to do the right thing,” Himes replied.

Monday November 3, 2008

Well, all the months and miles, smiles and frowns, blather and blither, charges and counter charges are finally winding down.
All we’re left with is Democrat Jim Himes spending most of Election Day in Bridgeport trying to finally put the stake through U.S. Rep. Chris Shays’s heart. He’s voting in Greenwich, partying in Norwalk (boo!) but he’ll be outside polling places in Bridgeport throughout the day.
If you can’t get enough of him, or if you think he’ll drop off the face of the earth like Ned Lamont if he loses tomorrow, here’s where Himes is going to be, courtesy of his campaign .

6:10am – 6:30am Jim votes with his family
Location: Central Middle School
9 Indian Rock Lane
Greenwich, CT

7:00am – 8:00am
Jim greets voters at the Blackham School
Location: Blackham School
425 Thorme Street
Bridgeport, CT

8:00am – 9:00am
Jim campaigns with Attorney General Blumenthal
Location: Blackham School
425 Thorme Street Bridgeport, CT

9:00am – 11:00am Jim campaigns at the Blackham School
Location: Blackham School
425 Thorme Street
Bridgeport, CT
11:00am – 12:30pm
Jim campaigns with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
Location: Blackham School 425 Thorme Street
Bridgeport, CT

12:45pm – 1:30pm
Jim eats lunch and greets diners at the New Colony Diner
Location: 2321 Main Street
Bridgeport, CT

1:45pm – 4:45pm
Jim greets voters at the polls
Location: Dunbar School
445 Union AvenueBridgeport, CT

5:00pm – 8:00pm Jim greets voters at the polls
Location: Wilbur Cross School
1775 Reservoir Avenue
Bridgeport, CT

8:00pm on:Victory Celebration
Location: The Brewhouse13 Marshall Street Norwalk,

Friday October 31, 2008

And the Blogster has just returned to the Capitol still wearing the appropriate Halloween costume for a “forum” of Fourth District candidates for Congress at the Millbrook Club in Greenwich.
I’m having a little trouble pulling my lockjaw apart – part of the protective coloring, including the blazer and tie needed to fit in at one of ther nation’s oldest planned communities.
Anyway, about 100 people lunched on roasted half chickens that were placed atop pommes and haricots verts – mashed spuds and green beans to gentle Blog readers – that were conveniently delivered to members of the Chamber of Commerce JUST as Democratic challenger started his half-hour pitch and Q & A session.
The Blogster reveled looking out over the lunchers and noticed not ONE diner used their hands to eat the birds. The result was alot of the chicken thighs went untouched.
Thanks goodness students from Greenwich High and the all-female Greenwich Academy were allowed to sit in, since they asked most of the questions to Himes and defending U.S. Rep. Chris Shays.
At one point, Shays got a laugh from the high schoolers by trying to localize the nation’s housing crisis in a town where the average home is worth more than $2 million.
“Say you have a house worth $500,000,” Shays said, pausing for a quip. “If you have a house worth $500,000, you’re not living in Greenwich, folks.”

Thursday October 30, 2008

Remember back on February 3, when John McCain appeared at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield?
Of course you don’t, that’s why you’re reading the Blogster. Well it was Super Bowl Sunday and McCain told about 2,000 supporters – along with a handful of hecklers – that if he won the GOP nomination he’d revisit Connecticut during the presidential campaign.
Guess what? He did and he didn’t.
Yes, McCain lied to Connecticut and their potential 7 whopping electoral votes. It’s testament to Connecticut’s expected imminent support of Barack Obama.
Chris Healy, chairman of the state GOP, just offered up a mea culpa.
“We still have 4-5 days to go,” Healy parsed, briefly. “I don’t think he should come here. Clearly the map is what it is. The support he has in the state continues to be strong.”
Healy said McCain’s February promise “was made in the heat of the moment” and that Republicans understand McCain has to attend to the battleground states with the big electoral votes.
“Anyway, he was scheduled to be here for a fundraiser earlier this fall, but he had a scheduling conflict,” Healy said over the phone. “In a sense he was good on it. These things happen.Certainly he’s not a stranger to the people of the state. I’m encouraged by what we see out there in the real world.”

Wednesday October 29, 2008

It was only a matter of time – in this case about 30 seconds – before unions would sniff out Gov. Jodi Rell’s “relief for municipalities” ideas released late yesterday afternoon. Amid the tax-amnesty proposal, which she needs legislative approval for, is a plan to change collective bargaining agreement that union like AFSCME today are railing against.
AFSCME Executive Director Sal Luciano just issued this statement:
“The Governor’s proposal to help Connecticut’s municipalities get through a period of instability resulting from the failed economic policies of the Bush Administration is inadequate.Her proposal focuses on solutions that have little to do with the real problems cities and towns face. For example, one of the governor’s four suggestions deals with binding arbitration. While speeding up the process may be a laudable idea, it is hardly where legislative time should be spent. Governor Rell must devote herself to finding meaningful ways to help Connecticut’s cities and towns, not just for now but for the long haul. Connecticut has serious structural problems and must act now to repair our aging infrastructure and schools, and invest in education, public safety and healthcare. These problems cannot be repaired with band aids and scotch tape.”
It’s highly unlikely that the Democratic majorities of 107-44 in the House and 23-13 in the Senate will approve the Republican governor’s binding-arbitration piece.
Rell’s plan would attempt to reduce municipal liabilities for retroactive pay and benefits by “tightening” binding arbitration deadlines during contract negotiations. -

Tuesday October 28, 2008

The Blogster realizes that he’s never pictured Sen. Dan Debicella as a boble-head doll. Maybe the Blogster doesn’t have the imagination of Democratic challenger Janice Andersen, whose campaign mailed a particularly graphic piece of attack mail this week.
“Republican Dan Debicella says one thing to get elected and does another when he votes,” the mailing says, featuring his smiling photo on a little bitty body. On the back, she picked six issues that Debicella voted against, including four bills that Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed into law on gun trafficking, heating-oil relief, emergency contraception for rape victims and the expansion of the HUSKY health plan for kids.
Debicella’s latest mailer, touts “A New Generation of Leadership” and calls for cutting state taxes on fuels; drilling for new natural gas and oil and offering tax breaks for families and businesses who adopt alternative energy.
Another mailer was one of the biggest pieces the Blogster has ever seen. The glossy 8.5 by 11-inch piece opens up to 17×22, featuring 10, county them, 10 pictures of Rep. Jason Perillo. You can thank public financing for this continual onslaught. Fortunately, there’s only one week until Election Day.

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