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Governor-elect Dannel Malloy is in the field today, meeting with officials in the federal Housing and Urban Development Department and the the Department of Transportation. The Blogster realizes he would liove another $1.5 billion like the stimulus money that helped bail out the General Assembly’s current budget.

This from a news release from the Malloy folks: “This visit will help advance Governor-Elect Malloy’s number one priority — creating new jobs and keeping the ones Connecticut already has.”

Here are his prepared remarks: 

“When I ran for Governor, I promised the people of Connecticut that I wouldn’t hesitate to go to Washington — or anywhere else, for that matter — to lobby on behalf of our state for the funding and programs we might need,” he said. “Meeting with Secretary Donovan and Deputy Secretary Porcari one-on-one will allow me the chance to discuss affordable housing initiatives, urban renewal projects, mass transportation and smart-growth strategies with two leaders renown in their respective fields. All of these issues have one thing in common: jobs.  Each area has enormous potential to help us create thousands of new jobs in Connecticut..This is the first of many trips I’ll be making to Washington to work with national leaders and our federal representatives there. In the coming weeks, I hope to convene a meeting with our state’s Congressmen and Senators, and meet with Connecticut’s federal relations staff in Washington. We need to make sure the lines of communication between Washington and Connecticut are open, used often and work both ways.”

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You’ve probably heard of those alcoholic energy drinks that are making college students pass out around the country. Gov. Jodi Rell and Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell have gotten Connecticut’s liquor wholesalers to agree to voluntarily suspend their delivery of Four Loko, Four Maxed and Joose. The ban starts December 10th, so for you folks in search of wide-awake-blotto, be warned of the deadline.

“These drinks could pose serious public health and safety risks for consumers,” Rell said in a statement. “Across the country, we have read stories about how minors have indulged in these drinks to the point of requiring emergency medical attention. We want to see to it that we do not read about similar instances here in Connecticut.” The stuff, produced by Phusion Projects and the Joose drinks, are distributed by Dichello Distributors of Orange, Hartford Distributors of Manchester, Levine Distributors of Norwich, Star Distributors of West Haven and Dwan & Company Distributors of Torrington. The Food and Drug Administration is currently reviewing the bruising brew.

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Brenda Sisco, acting secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and Paul Potamianos, executive budget officer in OPM, are explaining to the Appropirations Committee why the Department of Social Services is about $158-million over budget. “What we’re seeing is the impact of demand,” said Potamianos of the shift of medical services from State Administered General Assistance to Medicaid, due to the turndown in the economy. “What we’re seeing here is an increase in the Medcaid population.

Sisco said that part of the shortfall is also a previously anticipated $10-million savings from eliminating state medical assistance for non-residents. That issue is currently in court.

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This from the Connecticut Business & Industry Association:

“Gov.-elect Malloy, New Legislature Face Tall Task

CBIA congratulates Governor-elect Malloy, Lt. Gov.-elect Nancy Wyman, and all of the other state leaders and legislators on their election to office. The business community appreciates their dedication to the state and encourages them to engage the expertise and ingenuity of the employer community to help get Connecticut moving forward again.

Gov.-elect Malloy and the new General Assembly have a tall order ahead of them—fixing a $3.5 billion budget deficit in each of the next three years, restoring fiscal responsibility to Connecticut, and recharging a slowly recovering economy.

“Although Connecticut’s economic recovery is under way, growth is expected to be slower than the U.S. overall,” says John R. Rathgeber, CBIA president and CEO. “We can exceed those expectations by reducing above-average business costs and making Connecticut a state that encourages rather than discourages economic growth.

Malloy is the first Democratic governor in 20 years in Connecticut, and he will have a legislature in which both chambers are controlled by members of his party. Still, Republicans picked up 14 seats in the state House and one more Senate seat. The new tally is 23 Democrats and 13 Republicans in the Senate; and 100 Democrats and 51 Republicans in the House.

Businesses encourage lawmakers to reach across the aisle to create fiscal policies that will move the state in the right direction, welcome businesses and create jobs.

Legislative leadership

There will be only one leadership change in the next legislature. House Democrats elected Rep. Brendan Sharkey (D-Hamden) the new majority leader, replacing Secretary of the State-elect Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield Center). Reelected were Sen. Don Williams (D-Brooklyn) as President Pro Tem, and Sen. Martin Looney (D-New Haven) as Majority Leader. In the House, Rep. Chris Donovan (D-Meriden) will return as Speaker.

Republicans reelected Rep. Larry Cafero (R-Milford) as House minority leader and the Senate Minority Leader will once again be Sen. John McKinney (R-Southport).

State officers

Democrats also won all of the races for state constitutional officers. Denise Nappier won reelection as treasurer, former State Senate Majority Leader George Jepsen won the race for attorney general, Connecticut Healthcare Advocate Kevin Lembo took the race for comptroller, and current House Majority Leader Denise Merrill was elected secretary of the state.

Congress

Connecticut bucked a strong national trend toward Republicans by electing an all-Democratic congressional slate. Attorney General Richard Blumenthal defeated Republican Linda McMahon to win the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by longtime incumbent Sen. Chris Dodd.

Representatives John Larson (D-1),  Joe Courtney (D-2), Rosa DeLauro (D-3), Jim Himes (D-4) and Chris Murphy (D-5) all won reelection, but will now be in the minority party in the House.

Challenges ahead

Said CBIA’s Rathgeber, “It’s vital for state legislators to move quickly on a pro-jobs, pro-economic growth agenda to improve the state’s business climate and encourage employers to invest here. We call on lawmakers not to consider any job-killing bills—legislation that would increase the cost of business for employers or add new costly mandates.

“The sooner legislators take action to restore fiscal responsibility and revive our economy, the sooner Connecticut will be on the path to creating the sustainable jobs that are critical to the future of Connecticut’s economy, its residents, and its businesses.”  — Dave Conrad

Dave Conrad is a CBIA writer/editor. He may be reached at dave.conrad@cbia.com“.