Political Capitol

Anyone looking for a FANTASTIC breakfast or lunch spot before doing business in Hartford should swing by O’Rourke’s Diner along the main drag in the heart of Middletown.

The place already had a great reputation for out-of-the-ordinary dishes before suffering a damaging fire in 2006. It reopened last year and all the publicity has only increased its popularity. It was also recently featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” program.

I try every few weeks or months to swing by there for breakfast when heading to work at the capitol. Today I was very pleased to see the return of a dish the waitress admitted had been left off of the menu after the re-opening.

It’s a fancy eggs benedict with a slice of fried eggplant on top, covered with bay scallops and a spicy bacon sauce.

I had a little room left over so I also fit in a steamed cheeseburger. It was the steamer that caused the fire in the first place, and I’d never tried one of these local delicacies until after O’Rourke’s reopened.

I think I still prefer grilled burgers but the steamed are pretty tasty, particularly because of the big blob of cheese that adorns the top.

If scallops, eggplant and a cheeseburger sound kind of stomach-churning for breakfast don’t worry – there’s a several pages thick menu stuffed with other entrees, including specials and a variety of great French toasts.

And when you first sit down you’re given a little plate with slices of freshly baked breads and pastries to nibble with your coffee while perusing the menu.

You can also order just plain eggs and bacon or muffins or a bagel or whatever. But c’mon. Is that really what you’re going OUT for breakfast for?

The Commission on Compensation is charged by legislators and the governor with recommending salary increases for lawmakers and judges.

The group’s reports are often ignored by the former, who are concerned about how taxpayers will percieve politicians voting themselves pay raises (even though technically the increases would not go into effect until after the next election in 2010 when some lawmakers aren’t likely to seek office or to win re-election).

So the legislature has not voted itself a raise since 2001, much to the continued frustration of commission members who have studied the matter, reviewed how lawmakers in other states are paid, and truly believe our part-time legislators deserve to be paid more.

A Connecticut legislator’s starting salary stands at $28,000 a year with legislative leaders earning up to $38,689.

Last year, while the state was still experiencing a surplus, compensation commissioners revived the previous year’s failed proposal to increase leaders’ earnings by $30,000 and rank-and-file members’ salaries by $10,000.

Then-House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, shot down the idea even before the official report had been issued, noting it would only be used against his fellow Democrats as campaign fodder in the November elections.

With the state facing billion-dollar deficits in the current and coming fiscal years, compensation commissioners met today, threw up their hands and decided not to even bother suggesting lawmakers boost their salaries.

“It would have cost money,” Chairman Lew Rome said afterward. “It was appropriate last year. It’s inappropriate this year.”

The Commission on Compensation also avoided recommending raises for judges, instead suggesting the legislature vote to link future salary increases to those of the state’s executive managers – whenever that money becomes available.

Just got off the phone with Robert Genuario, head of the state’s Office of Policy and Management – in layman’s terms the Governor’s budget office.

While most state employees are enjoying a day off in honor of Dr. King, Genuario, a former Republican state Senator from Norwalk, is in his office working on solving the state’s fiscal crisis.

His boss – Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell – is scheduled to present her two-year budget proposal to the Democratic-majority legislature Feb. 4. The budget has to address what many anticipate will be an $8 billion shortfall.

On the opening day of the 2009 legislative session, House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, was practically gushing about incoming House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden.

But no longer after all of this business with Donovan’s immediate predecessor, James Amann.

Cafero today said he gladly seconded Donovan’s nomination as Speaker Jan. 7 but now questions his judgment at a time when the state’s financial crisis requires strong, thoughtful leadership.

“We do not need a Speaker to have his judgment and his reputation and credibility questioned,” Cafero said. “Not with all the work we have to do. I was really sad about this. I really was.”

On Sunday night Democrat Jim Amann’s gubernatorial campaign delivered a big “NUTS” to critics who believe he should drop out of the race if he takes the job offered recently by House Speaker Chris Donovan, D-Meriden.

The campaign announced three appearances over an equal number of days.

Today Amann was expected to speak at an event honoring Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the capitol.

Tomorrow he is scheduled to be interviewed on 99.1 WPLR’s Chaz & AJ morning show. He is also, according to Amann, starting work for Donovan.

And on Wednesday Amann will be appearing before the Meriden Democratic Town Committee at 7 p.m. He’s been making the rounds over the past months to drum up the support of party faithful for his gubernatorial bid.

As the week comes to a close, Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell and new House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden are vying for which can make the most controversial choice of candidate for a state job.

Rell started off last weekend by nominating Greenwich’s Linda McMahon, chief executive of Stamford-based World Wrestling Entertainment, for a seat on the state school board.

McMahon, according to Rell, has the background for the role, although these fun videos of her WWE exploits kicking a man in the groin and fighting with her daughter have been making the rounds and raising eyebrows.

Then on Friday Donovan tapped his immediate predecessor, just retired House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, for a $120,000 senior advisor job. The backlash is threatening to … um … body slam whatever embarrassment Rell’s choice of McMahon was causing the administration.

Amann, thanks to blogger CT Bob, has some footage of his own out there for folks to peruse.

New House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, just announced he has selected his immediate predecessor, Democrat Jim Amann of Milford as a “senior advisor.”

“In his new role, Amann will provide assistance and advice on legislative and administrative matters and will assist the Speaker with work groups that focus on key legislative initiatives. In addition he will help extend the community outreach initiatives of the Office of the Speaker, organizing regional meetings and events with business and advocacy groups across the state,” reads the press release.

Amann officially retired on the opening day of session last week to focus on a gubernatorial bid in 2010.

I’m inquiring whether this is a paid position with benefits or just honorary. Even if it’s the latter, Amann still benefits by keeping a high profile in Hartford and getting more face-time around the state, all of which will help as he seeks the Democratic Party’s nomination for Governor.

And this is also some good news for the state’s film industry.

UPDATE: Amann will earn $120,000. He and Donovan in separate interviews told me he cannot use the job as a platform for running for Governor, although that might be easier said than done.

Amann said during lunch and after hours he can “put on his gubernatorial hat” but Donovan didn’t seem to want Amann to be weighing in on what the current legislature is doing. So off the bat it seems like this has the capacity to be real awkward.

Amann also said while his new job could help his run for office, it could backfire depending on how Donovan does as Speaker.

“If I don’t do a good job, it may not be (helpful). If Speaker Donovan’s term up there is a failure, I think I’d have to be part of that responsibility,” Amann said.

And a shocked House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, wants Amann to pull out of the race for Governor.

In a brief interview today, Dan Livingston, chief negotiator for the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition, scoffed at the notion House and Senate Republicans wanted to show solidarity with state unions during hard times by proposing cuts to legislative salaries.

House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, and his colleagues during Wednesday night’s debate argued lawmakers should make symbolic sacrifices if they expect public employees, municipalities and residents to do the same during the budget crisis.

“It’s absolutely viewed as political gamesmanship,” Livingston said in response. “If the Republican lawmakers wanted to do something constructive they’d be suggesting ways to increase revenues … This is a real economic crisis out there. It needs real solutions.”