There were three terms/phrases in Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s final state-of-the-state address which I think best capture the major points she wanted to make to the General Assembly and the public.
1. “Partisan pinball” – Rell called on the Democratic-majority legislature to work with her in a civil manner to solve the state’s budget/economic problems and set aside the partisan warfare that marked 2009’s budget debate.
“There is no room for such pettiness on the playground,” Rell said, adding “none of us are blameless in this regard.”
Certainly Democrats, and even some Repubicans, would say Rell Chief of Staff Lisa Moody is one of the most political people in the building and constantly coming up with ways to make her boss look good at the expense of the majority party.
2. “A new normal” – Rell, noting 94,000 Connecticut residents have lost their jobs since the start of the recession in March, 2008, said a “new normal” will emerge at the end of the slow recovery.
“We in state government need a ‘new normal’ as well,” Rell said. “We need to recognize that not every service, not every program, not every function is absolutely essential. We need to acknowledge that higher taxes are not a solution to our problems.”
3. “The list goes on and it will be added to before I leave office next January.” – Rell, who is retiring, made this statement after recounting some of her accomplishments as Governor. Her message seems clear – she’s on her way out, but she’s no lame duck.
I wonder if her Excellency’s decision last year to allow a budget to become law without her signature while threatening to use a line item veto that she knew full well she didn’t have falls under her definition of “Political Pinball.”
Comment by Fuzzy Dunlop — February 3rd, 2010 @ 7:24 pm