Ken Dixon's Blog-O-Rama

It’s Saturday night and rather than let another day go by without a posting, the Blogster offers a guest slot to Lt. Gov. Mike Fedele, who could become a candidate for governor next year if Gov. Jodi Rell decides to cut and run. This piece came from Fedele’s media person, Laura Fanelli, so we wouldn’t be surprised if she had something to do with the copy.

If you’re wondering what Fedele’s doing for that $110,000 salary, the Blogster would like to remind you that the Republican lieutenant governor also presides, rather effectively, over the state Senate and its 24-12 Democratic majority.

Here’s Fedele’s PR piece, in its entirety, punctuation shortcomings and all:

Radio & TV, Knives, Cows & Oriental Grass:

Fourteen Days of Business Expansion Around Connecticut

 It’s a pretty widely held belief in the news industry that bad news sells. Well, that may be true but I’d like to remind you that with the bad comes the good and that in these crazy economic times there is some good happening.

Take my schedule for the last two weeks: starting the week after the long Labor Day weekend I attended ribbon cuttings at several businesses around the state. Some may scoff at the thought of ribbon cuttings. Well ribbon cuttings represent job creation, business expansion and additional investment in Connecticut’s economy, workforce and quality of life.

The middle of the week found me in northeastern Connecticut visiting with a number of farmers, agricultural business owners and even a microbiologist who developed a new kind of oriental species of decorative grass. Connecticut’s agricultural industry is in the billions and needs to be supported and nurtured. And yes, to use a pun, we need to help our farmers grow their business.

From my agricultural visits, I moved on to another ribbon cutting celebration: a large distribution center and warehouse expansion in Norwalk. More jobs, more investment in Connecticut.

Turn the calendar page and I began the next week with yet another ribbon cutting celebration and grand opening of NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution Media Center. Three nationally televised talk shows are now being filmed on location in Stamford bringing opportunities for people interested in getting into the television industry, young film students, filmmakers and crew members. Each of these ribbon cutting celebrations means economic growth for the surrounding community as well: restaurants, dry cleaners, realtors, gas stations: the more employees there are, the more services are needed.

Along with the expansion of the television industry in southern Connecticut, the music industry is also expanding in northern Connecticut. The second week found me celebrating another business expansion and relocation of a company that is a vital part of the music industry and supplies equipment to artists that are familiar to all of us who love music.

On the other end of the spectrum of business news in these last 14 days, I attended a HYPE event. HYPE stands for Hartford Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs. These are the business owners of tomorrow. Some are starting their business, others are learning how to run a business and even more importantly, they are networking: learning from each other, creating their dream, building their business and meeting others who have done the same. These are the business leaders and business owners of tomorrow.

I wrapped up my week by meeting another group of future business owners and Connecticut professionals: it was my privilege to welcome 22 new American citizens to Connecticut at a Naturalization Ceremony held at the Hartford Public Library. As an immigrant myself who has achieved the American Dream, it was my honor to meet our newest citizens. They came from Jamaica, Poland, Nicaragua and Africa.

Their stories and experiences are different but they are following their dream and I encouraged them not to stop: to take advantage of any and all opportunities for education, to improve their speaking and writing skills and pursue their economic dreams. It is all possible here in America.

That’s a view of Connecticut in just two weeks: business expansions in every corner of the state, a successful agricultural industry, young professionals chasing their dreams and newly naturalized citizens just beginning their journey here in our country.

It was an amazing week for me and a terrific week for Connecticut’s economy. By no means have we turned a corner—I expect the bad news will continue for sometime unfortunately. I have said repeatedly and I strongly believe this to be true: we will come out of the current economic turmoil in a much stronger position if we can make Connecticut a friendlier state in which to do business; if we keep business costs low, cut taxes and help young people like those I met at the ribbon cuttings, agricultural stops, HYPE and the Naturalization ceremony achieve their economic dreams.

If we can take a minute from all the bad news that’s fit to promote and remember there is good economic news going on in Connecticut. I saw it myself in just the last 14 days.

It’s Thursday afternoon and the top Republicans in the General Assembly – House Minority Leader Larry Cafero, R-Norwalk, and Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield – just held a news conference to proclaim that next week, Democrats should give towns and cities a break when they vote on legislation implementing the budget that is retroactive to July 1. They want so-called unfunded mandates to be withdrawn to save municipalities money on issues such as in-school suspensions tjhat require educators to spend added resources to supervise public schools’ most-disruptive pupils.

Cafero noted that plans to raise the age that juveniles are treated as adults in the criminal-justice system scheduled for next January 1, would save $95 million if delayed until 2012. In all there are five mandates that they want removed from the backs of towns and cities. Today’s news conference was their seveenth attempt of the year to push these issues. “Each and every time, in November, in January, in Apruil, in June and August and September, we have been told by Democrats not now, not yet, we want a public hearing, we have a bill that’s pending, etc.” Cafero said. 

McKinney said this is the last opportunity “to provide real relief for the people of the state of Connecticut” in the wake of a budget that has taken away $50 million from the Pequot Fund in local aid for towns and cities after mayors and first selectmen had set their local budgets months ago.  McKinney also blasted Democrats for cutting $7.8 million in debt service for school-construction projects. “WE need to provide relief to the citizens,” McKinney said. “I hope the Democrats will see the light and join us in providing the relief that many of them have talked about, but few, if any of them, have actually voted to implement.”

Majority Democrats immediately discounted the GOP suggestions, pointing out that since they did not vote for the budget, they’re impact now, in drawing up the language used to trigger spending plans within individual agencies, has been forfeited. Speaker of the House Chris Donovan, D-Meriden, said the budget passed last month contains protections for towns and cities.

 “We’ll continue to do the hard work required to help Connecticut through these difficult economic times,” he said. “School construction projects will be funded, and funding for municipalities will be maintained. We’re happy to listen to suggestions, but only Democrats put their names on the budget with their votes – a budget that provides the funding that municipalities are relying upon. We don’t intend to abandon them now.”

 Meanwhile, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities supported the Republicans. “CCM hopes this mandates relief plan is acted upon with bi-partisan support when the General Assembly convenes in special session next week”, said Jim Finley, CCM’s executive director and CEO, “Unfunded mandates are particularly onerous now, as towns are desperately trying avoid property tax increases and service cuts caused by the economy and declining levels of state aid.”

 The harsh numbers: Republicans are a 24-12 minority in the Senate and are outnumbered 114-37 in the House.

Well, the blush is finally off the rose, but while the latest Q Poll shows a softening – finally – in Connecticut’s love affair with Gov. Jodi Rell, state voters have also sniffed out some overripe cheese, namely the Democratic majorities that run the House and Senate.  

   While 56 – 34 percent of nearly 1,000 surveyed say Rell “copped out” by declining to sign the two-year, $37.6-billion budget enacted by Democratic majorities – and give her a still-safe 59 – 34 percent approval rating – they rate the General Assembly a negative 35 – 55 percent score. That’s the worse opinion of the Legislature since the summer of 2003′s budget mess.

Leave it to the Ds to put on a happy face, though. “This poll confirms what we’ve known for a while now: As the Chief Executive of the State of Connecticut, Governor Jodi Rell has been unable to show the kind of leadership that the people of this state want and deserve,” said Nancy DiNardo of Trumbull Democratic State Central Committee chairwoman. “The majority of voters polled – including a majority of those in her own party – believe she “copped out” concerning her embarrassing involvement in the budget process, and a stunning 58% of those polled are dissatisfied with the direction in which our state is headed. And it’s no wonder why – Governor Rell put forward a budget that would actually move us backward instead of forward, and when she should have showed leadership she showed cowardice, instead. Governor Rell should take a good, hard look at these numbers – and her interest in even running for another term – before she makes that critical decision.”  

The remarks from Senate President Pro Tempore Don Williams, D-Brooklyn, indicate that the glass is not even half full, it’s overflowing. His release, which the Blogster is amending here to keep readers from busting a gut with laughter, begs the entire question of that 35-percent approval rating. “Going forward, it is crucial that the governor carry out her significant responsibilities to make the budget cuts a reality,” Williams said. “The deep spending reductions in this budget will require belt-tightening and smart choices by executive branch agencies. We urge the governor to meet immediately and frequently with her commissioners to ensure that the requisite cost savings are achieved while critical services are maintained.” This line seems to forget how Democrats just…couldn’t…quite find the $520 million in cuts Rell asked for when she finally caved on the so-called millionaire’s tax. Instead, Democrats rammed through their budget with about $180 million of those cuts.

Speaker of the House Chris Donovan, D-Meriden, at least alluded, obliquely, to the low rating. “During especially tough times it is not unusual to see a range of public opinion,” Donovan conceded. “I am encouraged, however, by the vast majority of people who agreed with legislative Democrats that the wealthiest in our state need to be part of the budget solution. Many also believe the Governor abandoned her responsibilities by refusing to act on the budget.  I’ve spent the past two days at our public libraries and Family Resource Centers and I can tell you the people there do not believe we abandoned them.  In fact, the staff, parents and others who need and use these resources thought we passed a terrific budget.”

Finally, here’s the release from Rell’s office:

“Governor Rell loves her job and loves serving the people of Connecticut. She appreciates the way people in this state have always supported her. The poll reflects the fact that we have been dealing with a very difficult budget situation and Governor Rell made some choices she knew would not make everyone happy. That’s leadership. For the good of our state the budget crisis is now resolved, because Governor Rell put an end to it. By digging in her heels over the past five months, Governor Rell forced the Democrats to cut state spending and sharply reduce their demand for new taxes from $3.3 billion to $900 million. Everyone’s focus now should be on keeping and creating jobs and restoring our state’s economy.”

Yes, it seems that everyone’s in denial but, thankfully, the voters.

Who says Republicans don’t have senses of humor? We always knew they were better drinkers than Democrats, so maybe they’re better card players, too.
Milford Republicans tonight will attempt to make some hay at the expenses of Democrats including Rep. Barbara Lambert, D-Milford, who was caught playing computer solataire at the height, or depths, of the recent budget debate in the state House. Forget the dozen reps who are outside smoking at any given debate moment. An AP photog shot Lambert and Rep. Jack Hennessy, D-Bridgeport playing cards while House Minority Leader Larry Cafero, R-Norwalk, droned on against the budget.
Anyway, Cafero tonight is scheduled to attend a “Solitaire Tourney” in Milford at 7 o’clock. The party will underscore the “Infamous Photo” and raise money at the local Republican headquarters, 374 New Haven Ave, Milford. The $10 donations will be gathered to present to the Milford Police Department to invest in a video monitoring system for Wildemere Beach. “The Democrats cut the system from this year’s city budget when they were slashing public-safety funding,” says a release on the event. Participants are asked to bring a computer or deck of cards “and ignore crucial issues affecting Milford.”
Tom Jagodzinski, GOP town committee chairman: “If the Democrats had spent more time looking for reasonable budget cuts instead of playing computer games, Connecticut wouldn’t be in its current financial mess. This is about making sure people are aware of the damage Democratic representatives are doing to our city and state. Ultimately, this isn’t about computer games; it’s about political games. For years Connecticut has been losing population and jobs and the Democrats refuse to take the situation seriously. Obviously, Connecticut isn’t going to stop losing until Democrats start losing at the polls.”

Disgruntled taxpayers – and who isn’t these days, the Blogster asks? – will be heading to the polls on Tuesday for local primaries and you can still register up until Monday noon at your local registrar’s office. The mail-in registration deadline was yesterday, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz said this morning.

“Crucial budget and educational issues are facing many towns in Connecticut as voters go to the polls to choose municipal leaders this year, so it is imperative to register to vote!” Bysiewicz said in an exclamatory news release.  “Anyone who wants a say in the future direction of their community in these tough times should make sure they go to town hall and fill out the registration card in person by 12:00 noon on September 14^th.  This is especially true for those who missed the mail-in registration deadline”

Statewide, polls will be open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. for the primaries, which will help set local slates for the November 3 general election.

 The Blogster doesn’t follow American football in the least, though he notes that his alma mater, Ohio University in hilly Athens, put some amount of fear in the always over-rated, thoroughly pretentious Connecticut Huskies last weekend, before losing.

Nope, what the Blogtser likes in smash-mouth politics. It’s a little after 2:30 p.m. and Chris Dodd’s re-election folks just noticed that U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina, who shouted “You Lie” at President Obama last night during his speech before a joint session of Congress, has contributed $8,000 to Rob Simmons, the former Congressman from eastern Connecticut who is seeking the GOP nomination to run against Dodd next year. Wilson eventually apologized.

That event sent Democatic operative scurrying for smoking campaign cash. Dodd’s team says that Wilson gave Rob Simmons $8,000 over the years.  “In light of Congressman Wilson’s rude and childish outburst last night, Rob Simmons must do the right thing and immediately return the money he has received from Congressman Wilson over the years,” Dodd’s people just proclaimed in a news release.     

“We still haven’t heard what Rob Simmons’ healthcare plan looks like, but since he’s remained silent about his friend, Congressman Joe “You Lie!” Wilson’s outburst last night – and has given no indication he will return $8,000 of Wilson’s money – clearly he agrees with him, and sees nothing wrong with his behavior,” said Connecticut Democratic Party Communications Director Colleen Flanagan. “Not only was Wilson’s temper tantrum insulting to our President and his office, but it further cheapened the already-infantile rhetoric he and his party have espoused thus far. While Rob Simmons now pretends to be a moderate, he continually voted with George W. Bush, and he counts Congressman “You Lie!” as a friend and campaign backer. That’s about as far from moderate as they come.”

The contributions came when Simmons was still in Congress, before being bounced in 2006 by Democrat Joe Courtney, so it seems ludicrous for Dodd’s folks to call for a return of the long-spent cash. But hey, all’s fair in smash-mouth politics. As for the Huskies, maybe they’re on track for yet another obscure post-season bowl game, to which half the Div. 1-A teams are “invited.” This makes us ask another unfair, distantly related question: Who will be worse this year, UConn football or UConn men’s soccer?

….and eat all your peas. Gov. Jodi Rell kicked off a morning-long summit on the H1N1 flu this morning before 500 local healthcare and first-response officials, by telling them what they already know: cover your coughs and sneezes and use hand sanitizer. What no one wants to say is that if the flu hits Connecticut with a vengeance, there won’t be enough vaccine to go around. A million people could be affected by the flu, if it reaches the level of the 1968-69 “Hong Kong” flu. While the state may be getting about a million doses of vaccine, that assure the two-part vaccination of only half a million folks.

Environment Connecticut, the non-profit watchdog, just held a news conference on the north steps of the Capitol to promote pending legislation in Washington that would strengthen energy efficiency and climate controls. Putting it in terms even Connecticut politicians could understand, the group cited a new report indicating that if the federal legislation succeeds, Connecticut families could save about $350 a year, while 8,900 new jobs would be created.

“When the Senate takes up the bill, one of the things the advocacy community is asking for is to have that energy-efficiency investment is increased,” said Chris Phelps, program director for Enviroment Connecticut, in an interview. “As we know, based on our experience with our efficiency programs in Connecticut, it really is the fastest and cheapest way to meet our energy needs. We’re talking literally hundreds of millions of dollars that would flow into energy-efficiency programs that exist here, to incredibly boost those programs. It’s a linkage between the federal energy and climate legislation and what we’re doing at the state level that’s happening here. And a key is whether or not the feds meet the states halfway and actually bolster that investment we’ve already made.”

The group gave reporters copies of a new report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy called with the mouthful title of “Energy Efficiency in the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009: Impacts of Current Provisions and Opportunities to Enhance the Legislation.”

In Connecticut, budget watchdogs may examine closely the so-called implementer bills that will emerge from majority Democrats next week, to see if the current two-year budget will raid energy-efficiency funds to balance the unsteady spending package that was passed last week and went into effect on Tuesday.