Speaker of the House Chris Donovan wasn’t showing his hand this afternoon when talking with reporters about the status of the governor’s portion of the education-reform legislation that’s the subject of secret negotiations. “Everybody’s still talking,” Donovan said. “People met this weekend, you know, trading ideas back and forth. We’re still trying to work things out…My goal is to get an agreement done soon…We’re still working on it….” He believes that an education bill amenable to the governor, who has threatened vetoing the current package, in time for the May 9 adjournment. “That’s my hope.” He said there have been “good conversations” with his office. “We’re talking about getting an agreement. That’s where we’re going…We’re not done. Let’s put it that way. We’re working on it. And work is important. That’s all I can say.”
Reporter: “Is Hope a town in Arkansas, Mr. Speaker?”
Donovan: “It is.”
Rep. Andy Fleischmann, D-West Hartford, co-chairman of the Education Committee, who was standing with Donovan: “It’s also a place in the heart.”