Political Capitol

Tomorrow is going to be a pretty landmark day for proponents of healthcare reform in Connecticut.

At 9 a.m. the HealthFirst Connecticut Authority convenes to possibly finalize and vote on a series of legislative recommendations to ensure “universal” health coverage for all residents.

Over 300,000 Connecticut residents are currently uninsured. HealthFirst is recommending things like (and I’m really simplifying it for the sake of brevity): The state paying higher reimbursement rates to doctors who serve patients enrolled in state health programs; opening up the state employee health insurance to other residents/groups, giving them greater buying power than if they were shopping for insurance as individuals; mandating better medical record-keeping and other things intended to help keep residents healthy and stave off costly diseases/medical procedures; forming a state group to oversee healthcare in Connecticut.

Then tomorrow night in Hartford another coalition – healthcare4every1 – with similar intentions is scheduled to unveil a very similar plan.

So there’s going to be a lot of enthusiasm at the capitol tomorrow. But here’s where things get dicey. Neither group has presented a fiscal plan, but everyone admits the proposals are going to take money to implement.

And the state is facing a $6 billion – at least – deficit for the coming two fiscal years.

I asked Sen. Jonathan Harris, D-West Hartford, new chairman of the legislature’s public health committee/former chairman of the human services committee, about the prospects of significant healthcare reform this session.

“We will do something to move the ball forward on healthcare this session,” Harris said.

So is there new money for these initiatives?

“No way,” Harris said.

But he added: “That doesn’t mean there can’t be creative ways to rearrange the deck chairs” and perhaps shift existing funding.

Looks like there are no reunion shows planned for the 1980s sitcom. And that’s according to a pretty reliable source – actor and Norwalk resident James Noble.

Noble, who played the Governor on the program, has become a pretty familiar face at the capitol in recent years as a promoter of the state’s new film tax credits. He also has a seat on a film credits task force which met today.

I watched “Benson” as a kid and, after today’s meeting, stopped Noble on his way out and asked him about the possiblity of a reunion special. Noble said they tried but it didn’t work out. We got interrupted and I didn’t have the opportunity to probe further. But with the film credits facing potential cuts due to the state deficit, I’m sure he’ll be back in Hartford and I’ll have plenty more opportunities to talk “Benson.”

Genuario, a Norwalk resident and former state Senator, is testifying before lawmakers today on Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s plan to address the current fiscal year’s deficit of $343 million.

But once that is out of the way, Rell and the legislature’s Democratic majority have to craft a new budget for fiscal years 2009-10 and 2010-11 that addresses an estimated, $6 billion shortfall.

Rell and others have issued dire warnings about the budget challenges they face, but this opening statement from Genuario today is worth noting:

“We are entering what will be one of the most challenging sessions OF THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES,” he told legislators.

… about his run for Governor on Jan. 29 at The Klein auditorium in Bridgeport.

While all the other potential contenders, including Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy, are waiting to see if Attorney General Richard Blumenthal decides to finally take a shot at the job, Amann has been actively courting endorsements and pursuing the Democratic Party’s nomination.

He officially retired from the House of Representatives on the opening day of the 2009 session Wednesday to focus on his run.

Amann was back at the capitol today talking about ways to save his pet project – the film tax credits – from the budget axe and also handing out fliers about his scheduled “announcement event for the people of Connecticut.”

Amann afterward joked maybe he’ll be announcing he has decided to drop out of the race. A “celebration” will follow at Testo’s Restaurant for $20-per-head.

UPDATE: Monday, Jan. 12 – Amann just told me the $20 goes to the restaurant, not his campaign.

“I’m not collecting any money for myself that night,” Amann said by phone. “For people who want to attend, (Testa’s is) charging per head $20 bucks for covering costs.”

Early last month I wrote in The Advocate about how the state’s budget deficit may jeopardize the future of the tax credits for film and television productions passed in 2006.

Those credits have lured plenty of big productions to lower Fairfield County.

A spokesman for the Governor’s budget office at the time said the program was being carefully reviewed in light of a $6 billion deficit facing lawmakers in fiscal years 2009-10 and 2010-11.

The most recent report of the Office of Fiscal Analysis, released in January, showed that of the $556.2 million the state spent on corporate business tax exemptions, deductions and credits, $90 million went toward the film production credits – the highest amount of the 41 corporate business tax breaks offered.

“The hole is too big for everything not to be on the table,” said Jeffrey Beckham, spokesman for the state budget office. “The governor has said this is an opportunity to re-examine virtually everything, and there may be some extras out there we just can’t afford right now.”

Today the Senate chairmen of the legislature’s budget committees – Sen. Toni Harp, D-New Haven and Sen. Eileen Daily, D-Westbrook – announced via press release they have begun “an exhaustive review” of the credits.

Their press release is interestingly timed. It comes one day AFTER House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, who spearheaded the credits, turned in his gavel and retired from the legislature to focus on a gubernatorial run in 2010.

And the press release comes the day BEFORE the Hollywood East Task Force which Amann established to shepherd the film and television industry in the state holds its first meeting of the new year and of the 2009 legislative session.

Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, today unveiled a “deficit clock” on his caucus’ website to reflect what Republicans say is how much the state over-spends at a given moment while revenues drop in the current 2009 fiscal year.

The Democrats quickly dismissed the clock as a gimmick. But it’s hard not to feel a bit uneasy looking at it.

If you’re interested in something similar for the federal deficit, go here.

And if you really want to freak yourself out, look at the clock on the wall and realize that you are growing old BY THE SECOND!!!

I don’t know if this bodes well for the upcoming session or if it’s just opening-day euphoria, but House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, was extremely complimentary of new House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, today.

Cafero gladly seconded Donovan’s nomination, calling it “an honor and a priviledge.”

“Now you’re thinking ‘he has to say that’. I don’t. And I want to say it because it’s true,” Cafero said, going on to add the two may disagree on issues but Donovan “has character” and is an honest man.

“I’m proud to be able to call him my Speaker,” Cafero told their House colleagues.

It will be interesting to see how their relationship evolves over the coming months as the legislature grapples with balancing a budget with a projected $6 billion deficit.

Donovan is more liberal than his predecessor, the retired Rep. Jim Amann, D-Milford.

One issue where Cafero and Donovan are clearly at odds is healthcare.

And Cafero has cautioned he believes Donovan is too close to the very employee unions that may be asked to make concessions to help cut the state deficit.

New House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, during his acceptance speech today recalled for his colleagues one of his favorite memories of serving in the legislature.

The year was 1996 and Donovan, along with former Rep. Moira Lyons and the late Rep. Anne McDonald, both Stamford Democrats, were working on a managed care reform bill.

“We heard the Senate was not even thinking of bringing the bill up for a vote,” Donovan said. “We were upset. We were really upset.”

He said McDonald brought the bill “out” onto the House floor for a vote and became so emotional “she actually stumbled in her seat and kind of slumped.”

Lyons stepped in to finish explaining the bill, and then one after one other lawmakers rose to speak passionately about the legislation.

Finally, Donovan said, a vote was called and the House passed the bill by a voice vote – making sure it was loud enough for the Senate to hear on the floor above.

“And this place rocked,” Donovan said. “It was an ‘aye’ that rocked these windows … That was a wonderful, wonderful moment and I’ll always remember that.”

He added the bill failed in the Senate, but was passed in the following legislative session.