Ken Dixon's Blog-O-Rama

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The House just voted 106-30 to require youths under 18 to wear protective eyewear while blasting each other with paintball weaponry. Sounds like a no-brainer, which may equal the cranial power of your average teenaged paintballer.
As Rep. Steve Dargan, D-West Haven, was introducing the bill, there was a few seconds of weird, clicking feedback over the public-address system. Dargan, who has recovered from hip-replacement surgery, may have felt guilty.
“I know I have a new hip but I don’t know if that’s what’s causing it,” Dargan said.
A grinning Speaker of the House Chris Donovan: “Whatever it is, stop it”
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Friday May 22, 2009

It didn’t take Gov. Jodi Rell very long to drop her usual “I need to read the bill” deferral of reporters questions and use the word “veto” in a sentence to describe what she wants to do with the death-penalty repeal that the Senate finally voted at 4:11 a.m. today.
The Blogster was surprised that the legislation got so far this year and now, unlike the governor, realizes it’s only a matter of time before the state joins all it’s surrounding neighbors and all New England states but New Hampshire, in dumping the death penalty in favor of life in prison without the possibility of release for Connecticut’s most-violent killers.

Thursday May 21, 2009

At about 9 p.m., Rep. Jason Perillo apparently collapsed and passed out in a first-floor bathroom in the Capitol.
He fell and hit his head, was taken to Hartford Hospital and seems okay at this point with a laceration and a budding black eye.
The 31-year Shelton resident won the special election following the death of Richard O. Belden in 2007.

Thursday May 21, 2009

If you’re stuck in the House listening to one meaningless debate after another, while the death-penalty debate goes on in the Senate tonight, peruse this list of bills Gov. Jodi Rell signed recently and released tonight. Maybe yours is among them.
She told a few reporters today she’s hoping for an “immediate transferral” of the death-penalty repeal, from the Senate to her desk tonight, if it passes. No such luck. Proponents of the repeal want her to become the focus of international interest. And yes, if the repeal goes through tonight, probably by no more than a vote or two, the interest will start building first thing in the morning.
The Blogster is looking forward to giving reporters from around the world directions to the men’s room and Rell’s office.

Here are the bills:
AN ACT CONCERNING A UNIFORM REPORTING FORM FOR PRESCHOOL AND CHILD CARE PROGRAMS

This Act passed and shall take effect upon passage, which is the day the Governor signed the bill. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

S.A. 09-4

S.B. 382 AN ACT CONCERNING THE BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN THE TOWN OF WATERTOWN AND THE CITY OF WATERBURY

This Act passed and shall take effect as follows: Sections 1-5 shall take effect from passage, which is the day the Governor signed the bill; and Section 6 shall take effect from passage and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2008. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

S.A. 09-5

s.H.B. 5186 AN ACT CONCERNING THE THOMPSONVILLE FIRE DISTRICT

This Act passed as amended by House Amendment Schedule A and shall take effect upon passage, which is the day the Governor signed the bill. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-30

s.S.B. 1021 AN ACT CONCERNING NOTIFICATION OF CONTAMINANTS IN DRINKING WATER

This Act passed as amended by House Amendment Schedule A and shall take effect upon passage, which is the day the Governor signed the bill. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-31

s.H.B. 5694 AN ACT CONCERNING UTILITY SERVICE TERMINATION

This Act passed and shall take effect July 1, 2009. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-32

s.H.B. 5792 AN ACT CONCERNING EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL AUTOMATIC LAWN SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

This Act passed and shall take effect October 1, 2009. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-33

s.H.B. 6190 AN ACT CONCERNING CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN EMPLOYER DATA

This Act passed and shall take effect October 1, 2009. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-34

s.H.B. 6287 AN ACT AUTHORIZING CASH PRIZES FOR BLOWER BALL GAMES

This Act passed as amended by House Amendment Schedule A and shall take effect upon passage, which is the day the Governor signed the bill. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-35

s.H.B. 6324 AN ACT CONCERNING THE INSPECTION OF ELEVATORS, THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE AND LOCAL FIRE MARSHALS, THE REGULATION OF EXPLOSIVES AND OTHER TECHNICAL CHANGES

This Act passed as amended by House Amendment Schedule A and shall take effect October 1, 2009. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-36

H.B. 6439 AN ACT CONCERNING THE VOTING RIGHTS OF CERTAIN SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD PERSONS

This Act passed and shall take effect upon passage, which is the day the Governor signed the bill. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-37

s.H.B. 6598 AN ACT CONCERNING THE RELEASE OF BIOLOGIC MATERIAL FOR GENETIC TESTING

This Act passed and shall take effect October 1, 2009. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-38

s.H.B. 6643 AN ACT CONCERNING THE RESIGNATION OR ABSENCE OF AN AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR CERTAIN BUSINESS ENTITIES

This Act passed and shall take effect October 1, 2009. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-39

s.H.B. 6685 AN ACT CONCERNING THE REPORTING OF INMATE POPULATION DENSITY AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITY SPECIFIC DATA

This Act passed and shall take effect July 1, 2009. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-40

S.B. 251 AN ACT CONCERNING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN ENTERPRISE ZONES

This Act passed and shall take effect October 1, 2009. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-41

s.S.B. 458 AN ACT REQUIRING COMMUNICATION OF MAMMOGRAPHIC BREAST DENSITY INFORMATION TO PATIENTS

This Act passed and shall take effect October 1, 2009. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-42

s.S.B. 855 AN ACT CONCERNING APPOINTMENTS TO THE FARM WINE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

This Act passed and shall take effect July 1, 2009. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-43

S.B. 905 AN ACT CONCERNING TECHNICAL CHANGES TO THE CALCULATION OF COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCES FOR MEMBERS OF THE TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM

This Act passed and shall take effect upon passage, which is the day the Governor signed the bill. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-44

S.B. 1136 AN ACT CONCERNING CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE

This Act passed and shall take effect from passage, which is the day the Governor signed the bill and applicable to claims filed prior to, on or after said date. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-45

S.B. 1141 AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSIONERS FOR TECHNICAL REVISIONS TO THE EDUCATION STATUTES

This Act passed and shall take effect upon passage, which is the day the Governor signed the bill. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-46

s.S.B. 46 AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONSUMER REPORT CARD

This Act passed as amended by Senate Amendment Schedule B and shall take effect October 1, 2009. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-47

S.B. 312 AN ACT CONCERNING THE SALE OF CIDER AND APPLE WINE, WINE FESTIVALS AND THE HOURS OF OPERATION OF FARM WINERIES

This Act passed as amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A and shall take effect as follows: Sections 1-7 shall take effect upon passage, which is the day the Governor signed the bill; and Section 8 shall take effect July 1, 2009. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-48

s.S.B. 764 AN ACT CONCERNING DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL TRANSACTION CONTROLS

This Act passed as amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A and shall take effect upon passage, which is the day the Governor signed the bill. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-49

s.S.B. 959 AN ACT CONCERNING EXTERNAL APPEALS OF ADVERSE DETERMINATIONS BY A MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATION, HEALTH INSURER OR UTILIZATION REVIEW COMPANY

This Act passed as amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A and shall take effect October 1, 2009. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.

P.A. 09-59

s.S.B. 1089 AN ACT CONCERNING AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS

This Act passed as amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A and shall take effect October 1, 2009. The Governor signed the bill on May 20, 2009.
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Thursday May 21, 2009

Let’s scroll back to the height of the seven-hour debate yesterday on the healthcare-pooling legislation.
It was 5ish and the House was kind of…empty as the proceedings droned on. That’s because many lawmakers were up on the third floor noshing on nibbles and quaffing libations, thanks to the friendly folks who overcharge you each month at AT&T.
That’s about the limit of special-interest perks these days, in the era of public financing.
That event was nothing, however.
Today, lawmakers and staffers are invited to a reception thrown by the Connecticut Seafood Council at 11, followed at 3 by a UConn Partners “Ice Cream Social,” which is but a prelude to the Blogster’s second-favorite event of the year, the first being the celebration of Nathan Hale’s birthday that takes place, without drinks, but with the serious pomp deserving of our state hero, around his statue in the first-floor atrium in early June.
At 5:30 today, in the third-floor Old Judiciary Room, the Connecticut State Society of Anesthesiologists will throw their annual reception for lawmakers and staff. The Blogster has never actually attended one of the affairs, because he’s concerned that there may not be a gleaming green cylinder of nitrous oxide, and balloons, for merrier lawmaking.

Wednesday May 20, 2009

Veteran Bridgeport Rep. Chris Caruso, the irascible, sarcastic, thick-headed, enjoyable, fun-loving, stick-to-his-guns Democrat, wasn’t in his customary seat in the backrow of the House yesterday. He’s been hospitalized with a leg infection, his friends say.
The selfish Blogster wants him back as quickly as possible so Caruso can be thoroughly quoted during the upcoming last two weeks of the legislative session, which, of course, will only be a prelude to the special session that may produce a budget by June 30, Bastille Day (July 14), the Ides of August, Labor Day…….

Wednesday May 20, 2009

A young male moose spotted yesterday in Farmington has apparently made his way down to New Britain this morning. State DEP officials are preparing an advisory about the poor beast, which the Blogster hopes does not get blown away and he looks for love in dangerous, urban places.

Tuesday May 19, 2009

It’s about 7:30 p.m. and as the House debate continues on the bill to consolidate the financially tattered, nearly bankrupt Probate Court system, the Blogster has gotten word that Theresa Lantz of Manchester is retiring from her $158,000-a-year job as commissioner of the state Department of Correction.
Lantz, you’ll remember, once declined to tell lawmakers whether there was a limit on the number of inmates the prison system could accommodate. She said that at a time when the daily inmate total was around a record 19,000.
Deputy Commissioner Brian Murphy is taking over the commissioner’s duties, according to the folks in the know in the House.