Legislative Democrats continue to talk about the possibility of overriding Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s veto of a catch-all budget-related bill that, among other things, exempted the Judicial Branch from additional spending cuts and prevented the administration from privatizing/closing group homes.
There had been talk of the legislature reconvening this week for a possible veto session.
But yesterday Doug Whiting, spokesman for House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, in an e-mail to reporters said that was no longer a possibility.
“There will be NO House session on Thursday or Friday this week,” Whiting wrote. “We will continue discussing a possible override internally and let you know if anything develops for next week.”
But the chances of an override appear slim if impossible. A few Democratic Senators joined the Republican minority in voting against the legislation and at least one of those – Sen. Bob Duff, D-Norwalk - said he has no plans to change his mind.
All 24 Senate Democrats are needed to support an override.
Duff told me although he is concerned about the impact Rell’s veto could have on local courthouses – the Judicial Branch is weighing major changes to the Norwalk and Stamford operations as a result of the budget cuts – “there’s many parts of the bill I don’t like. There’s spending in there of money we don’t have now to spend.”
For example he opposes a section of the bill committing $1.3 million for a needs assessment for children of incarcerated parents.
UPDATE: House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, this afternoon told reporters the veto session is a dead issue and there are not enough votes in the Senate.
