Ken Dixon's Blog-O-Rama

Wow, the Blogster has just checked out the video at Lembolies.com, a site sponsored by Waterbury Mayor Mike Jarjura, who is opposing state Healthcare Advocate Kevin Lembo for the Democratic comptroller nomination August 10. Check out the “Lembo Limbo.” Right now they’re in state court arguing whether Lembo is qualified for a public-financing grant for the Citizen’s Election Program.

www.lembolies.com

In a new audit of the banking department, state auditors report that one employee “was found to have frequent and habitual use of sick time,” including 272 hours of sick time between January 2007 and February, 2010. Of that total, 200 hours were used before or after weekends, holidays and vacation. Also, two manager-level employees, taking the same business trip, earned different amounts of comp time.

 The funniest thing – by funny the Blogster means upsetting for taxpayers – is the department’s purchase of more than $75,000 worth of computer equipment that was never used, including 37 desktop computers, 28 laptops and 38 docking stations, plus a $150,000 software license that was unusued as of February. ”Hardware purchases were made that exceeded the department’s needs,” the audit says.  Here’s the agency response: “Due to early retirements and funding issues for necessary IT projects, the agency had excess hardware that could not be deployed in a timely fashion.”

House Minority Leader Larry Cafero of Norwalk has finally endorsed Republican Linda McMahon for U.S. Senate, more than two months after the GOP state convention endorsed her.

“As a proud Connecticut Republican, I believe with all my heart that our state and our country are better served with a Republican representing Connecticut in our U.S. Senate,” Cafero said in a released from McMahon’s headquarters. “I am proud to have been one of Rob Simmons’ earliest supporters in his campaign for Senate.  Rob has a long, distinguished record of public service, and I believe he will continue serving this state and our country for years to come. If our Republican party hopes to beat the well financed Democratic front runner, Richard Blumenthal, we need a candidate who is positioned on August 11^th to take this campaign to the November 2^nd, Election Day finish line. I now believe Linda McMahon is that candidate. Throughout this campaign, Linda has demonstrated the grit to take the fight to a man who thinks he can win a U.S. Senate seat by hiding from the public and the press. Linda has the message, resources and the team to win in November. I am not casting my vote against Rob Simmons, I’m voting for Linda McMahon, as I believe she is the Republican Party’s best hope for victory.”

This from Gov. Rell’s office Monday morning:

“Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state Department of Administrative Services (DAS) posted near record-breaking collection revenues for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, taking in more than $1.2 billion in claims and reimbursements owed to the State of Connecticut.

“It is our responsibility and our legal obligation to collect every cent that is due to the state and our taxpayers,” Governor Rell said.   “I want to commend the Collections Services staff of DAS for always looking for more aggressive and effective ways to pursue this revenue, particularly as we are facing a difficult and serious economic climate.”

DAS Commissioner Martin Anderson said the agency generated more than $1.2 billion in paid claims, breaking the billion dollar ceiling for the second year in a row.

DAS generates collection revenue by:

·        Billing and collecting for services provided by the Departments of Developmental Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Children and Families whose facilities and programs span the state

·        Providing billing and collection services for the School Based Child Health and Birth to Three programs

·        Administering trust accounts on behalf of individuals residing in state facilities

·        Providing claim-processing services for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs

·        Intercepting tax refunds and lottery winnings

·        Pursuing claims and liens against personal injury settlements, decedent estates and inheritances

·        Obtaining reimbursement of public assistance benefits paid by the Department of Social Services and for cost of incarceration for the Department of Correction

“We are more than just a collection agency for the State,” Anderson said.  “We work closely with other state agencies to develop new revenue producing programs, and refine existing programs to adapt to an ever-changing environment.”

DAS Collection Services Director JoAnn Figueiredo credits this year’s successes to several key factors:  effective collection efforts on the part of DAS employees, close partnerships with sister state agencies and new program initiatives.

“Hard work and collaboration made all the difference. We and our business partners focused on the work that has the most impact,” Figueiredo said.