Political Capitol

Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell has gotten a fair share of criticism for pledging so far unspecified deep cuts across state government to address the budget hole.

But to be fair, at least she’s offering something. Trying to get Democratic leaders to put forth their budget agenda has so far been next to impossible.

Over the past few weeks it seems like the Democrats have spent more time talking about the various areas they do not want to see cut and those they don’t control – like union negotiations – than those areas they would address.

I asked House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, during a press conference today what his party was bringing to the table. His response was basically the legislature has budget committees, they’ll be looking at all sorts of stuff, they want the public to weigh in.

It’s hard to believe Donovan and other Dems don’t have some specifics in mind. Donovan in particular is known as being a major fan of levying higher taxes on the rich.

But certainly it’s to the party’s advantage to remain mum until AFTER Rell outlines her own proposals next Wednesday.

Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell is doing something a little unusual Monday night. She is asking the state’s television networks to broadcast a live, five minute address just after 6 p.m.

The state is facing a deficit in the billions and Rell is scheduled next Wednesday to deliver what she promises to be a sobering two year budget containing deep cuts in every program and department.

She wants to speak directly to the people Monday night and make her case before the legislature’s Democrats, unions and various special interest groups start putting their own spin on her proposal.

Asked this afternoon for his thoughts on Rell’s perhaps sharing details of her budget two days before she addresses the General Assembly, House Speaker Christopher Donovan said: “It’s unusual times. Certainly the Governor should try and get her message out. It’s going to be tough news. We know that.”

Democrats are considering asking for some air time of their own Monday.

The state bond commission met this morning to authorize borrowing $525 million for a variety of capitol projects which Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell a few weeks ago proposed as a means of jump starting the state’s economy.

But Rell herself, who sets the commission’s agenda and typically chairs its monthly meetings, was a no show.

Her absence was conspicuous because it comes just days before she is set to deliver next Wednesday’s highly anticipated 2009-10/2010-11 budget to lawmakers which will address a staggering deficit in the billions.

Rell has indicated she wants deep cuts and no tax increases.

Typically Rell holds a press conference after the bond commission meetings fielding whatever questions reporters have on their minds. Obviously the hot topic today would have been the budget along with Rell’s decision to allow the bonding to go forward in light of the state’s fiscal climate.

The status of the state’s controversial decision to transition clients of the HUSKY health insurance plan for low income kids and their families to new managed care companies this weekend was also likely to come up. Just a few minutes before the bond commission meeting Democrats condemned the administration for not holding off on the move, arguing the new managed care companies do not have adequate enough networks of doctors and the change is proving too confusing for HUSKY patients.

A Rell spokesman said the Governor was polishing up her budget speech.

The bond commission was presided over by Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele of Stamford, who afterward said the Governor was working hard on the budget.

If she was, her budget director was not in the room with her. Norwalk’s Bob Genuario was at that moment testifying before the legislature’s appropriaitons committee on a new contract with state corrections officers.

Former Westport First Selectwoman Diane Farrell, a Democrat who in 2007 was nominated by President Bush to the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, said today her job is secure despite the turn-over in the White House.

“My term runs through 2011. I feel very lucky. I don’t go through some of the ’sturm und drang’ new appointees go through,” Farrell said at the end of a phone interview on other topics.

If anything Farrell, a Democrat who twice challenged Republican U.S. Congressman Christopher Shays, should enjoy the job even more since Democrat Barack Obama was sworn in as President Jan. 20.

The Democratic wave also swept Shays out of office – he was defeated by Jim Himes of Greenwich.

“I’m really, really excited to be working with the Obama White House and the bank’s mission has become more critical than ever,” said Farrell, who now splits her time between Washington D.C. and a home in Easton.

Farrell said the bank was created in response to the Great Depression and is currently working hard to support small businesses “at a time when credit has become chokingly tight.”

“We’re trying to evaluate our policies almost on a daily basis to be as responsive as possible to U.S. exporters,” Farrell said. “It’s a very intense time.”

… mentioned in the prior post.

And here’s a perfect example why you need more than just one or two newspapers covering the capitol.

I’ve been writing a lot about the future of the state’s film tax credits considering the current budget crisis. But eagle-eyed fellow reporter Ted Mann at The Day of New London spied a major bill I missed that is being raised tomorrow (Thursday) morning in Hartford.

I spoke briefly with sponsor Sen. Gary LeBeau, D-East Hartford tonight.

“I’m trying to save the tax credits by proposing a reduction in them,” LeBeau said. “I don’t think we can maintain the tax credits in the form they’re at right now. I’m putting out the bill, having a hearing and we’ll hear what people have to say.”

LeBeau did not expect much discussion since the bill is one of many being raised with the intention they be debated and refined at future meetings later in the session. But perhaps some lawmakers might not want to see it get that far.

But just the mere proposal will seriously freak out supporters of the tax credits who argue ANY talk about them being lessened or eliminated scares away Hollywood and any incoming productions.

From what I’ve heard, tomorrow (Thursday) some of the state’s employee unions are going to release the results of a recent poll asking taxpayers how they feel about “slashing” public services to address the budget deficits.

The unions are fighting anticipated cuts by Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who has promised to unveil a painful budget on Feb. 4 that will likely also suggest consolidations, early retirements and perhaps layoffs.

Since the unions are releasing the poll results, I’m sure the data is in their favor.

But it will be interesting to see if the pollsters asked whether state residents are willing to pay higher taxes to avoid cuts in services.

The State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition just posted on its website a summary of today’s budget talks with Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration.

The Governor and General Assembly face a nearly $1 billion shortfall this fiscal year and must craft a new two-year spending plan in the face of a potential, $8 billion budget deficit in 2009-10 and 2010-11.

Rell delivers her budget address Feb. 4.

According to SEBAC “the administration suggested a retirement incentive program unconnected to protecting public services, job security or any long-term agreement between the parties … The Governor delivers her budget address on Feb. 4 and it is clear that her administration labors under the illusion that public services can be responsblity reduced by layoffs or agency consolidations.”

The union goes on to state demand for public services will be up during the recession and the administration needs to support “a long-term positive solution which provides the revenue needed to support the services people need to rebuild our state.”

More revenue translates into a bid for higher taxes – something House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, suggested earlier in the day during a radio interview on WNPR.

“The wealthy as well as the average person needs to kick in,” Donovan responded to one caller’s question about potential tax increases. Donovan has long been a fan of a so-called millionaires tax and is a strong supporter of organized labor.

Rell during her Jan. 7 state-of-the-state address made it clear she was pursuing deep cuts and working to drastically decrease the size of state government.

House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, said the governor reiterated that message today during a conference call with Democratic and Republican legislative leaders.

“There’s going to be cuts everywhere and they’re going to be deep,” Cafero said. “And she is basically asking us before any of us come out of the box and condemn what she did … to do it in the spirit of solving a problem and not to gain political points.”

Another indication of Rell’s potential budget plans is an invitation Cafero said she is extending to legislators to meet Monday with notable author David Osborne, whose 1993 book “Reinventing Government” remains a blue print for reformers.

“There are still many representatives – both sides of the aisle – that just don’t get it yet. The magnitude of what we’re facing is so mind-boggling it is beyond the comprehension of some of these lawmakers,” Cafero said. “She’s trying at the very least for everyone to recognzie the severity and depth of the problem … We’re talking the wholesale change of government and here’s a gentleman who’s a nationally renowned expert in such things.”