Political Capitol

Attorney General/Democratic U.S. Senator-elect Richard Blumenthal’s office just issued an absurdly titled press release heavy on the acronyms:

“AG calls DCP to halt AED sales immediately after FDA ban.”

I immediately thought, “WTH?!?!” and then had to LOL!!!!

Considering how slow the wheels of justice can turn, some might be surprised to learn that one of the parolees accused of the 2007 Cheshire home invasion/triple murders has been tried and convicted while state officials have still not implemented one of the key reforms that resulted from that tragedy.

Here’s our story about the Criminal Justice Information System, mandated in January, 2008 to improve communication between nearly one dozen Connecticut law enforcement agencies to try and avoid another Cheshire.

UPDATE: Retiring Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s office did not provide a comment for the above report, so I caught up with Rell today in Fairfield.

Now that the 2010 U.S. Senate race is over, there has been a lot of speculation about self-described “independent Democrat” Joseph Lieberman’s plans for 2012, when his Senate term is up.

But what about the Connecticut for Lieberman third party the Stamford resident formed in 2006 to continue his bid for a fourth term after he lost that year’s primary to Democrat Ned Lamont?

Lieberman promptly abandoned the party after his victory.

But the Lieberman-less Connecticut for Lieberman is still around and ran a U.S. Senate candidate in last week’s election who didn’t fare too well.

It’s doubtful Lieberman is shedding any tears over the results.

Our story.

Had the privilege of being invited by Dennis House to be part of this weekend’s “Face the State” program Sunday at 11 a.m. on WFSB Channel 3.

House, myself and Angela Dias of WTIC radio in Hartford spent a half hour questioning Democratic Governor-elect/former Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy. As House noted afterward, we had enough questions for at least an hour-long show.

I don’t want to spoil too much, but here are a few nuggets to whet your appetite to tune in…

Malloy early next year will have to deliver his first budget, which must address an estimated, $4 billion deficit.

“I think we’re going to put state government on a long-term diet,” Malloy told us. That means, he said, it has to become “much more efficient and be operated by fewer people.”

But Malloy also believes, despite Connecticut’s fiscal woes, government must continue to borrow to invest in infrastructure projects and create jobs.

“I think we should build,” Malloy told us. “I am an infrastructure guy.”

Asked whether he will keep any of retiring Republican Governor M. Jodi Rell’s commissioners on board, Malloy said: “I may.”

Rell’s right hand – some argue the real governor – has been long-time friend/ally, Chief of Staff Lisa Moody. Malloy so far has only announced one new hire – Chief of Staff Tim Bannon, a former special counsel for external affairs at Stamford-based Purdue Pharma who has also held various posts in state government.

“He’s my chief of staff so he’s going to have a lot of power,” Malloy said, but emphasized he as governor will be the one calling the shots.

I had the same reaction as The New Haven Advocate’s Greg Hladky when I heard that Connecticut Republican Chairman Chris Healy’s name had been dropped as one possible replacement for national Republican head Michael Steele.

What the!?!?!? Is this the same Chris Healy some within his party are blaming for its Election Day losses in Connecticut?

Rather than reinventing the wheel here, check out Hladky’s thorough blog post on this subject. He spoke to both Healy and some party insiders.

The one minor bit of original reporting I can add is Healy’s reaction to the recent call by the Register Citizen Newspaper of Litchfield County for his ouster.

The blistering Nov. 3 editorial was entitled, “After Election Wipeout, It’s Time for Connecticut Republicans to Remove Chris Healy.”

Healy during a post-election phone interview with Hearst Connecticut Newspapers scoffed at the editorial, noting that the writer(s) a couple of times misspelled his name “Healey.”

Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, and House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, re-elected to represent their districts and their respective caucus members, held a press conference today at the capitol to reflect on other results from last Tuesday and on Democrat Dannel Malloy’s gubernatorial victory.

“I have never served under a Democratic governor. This will be my tenth term,” Cafero said. “It’s a new dynamic. So we’re on new ground.”

Malloy replaces retiring Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who was preceded by Republican John Rowland and Independent/former Republican Lowell Weicker.

Both Cafero and McKinney said they separately congratulated Malloy, Stamford’s former mayor, and running mate Nancy Wyman, outgoing state comptroller, on their victory in the closest gubernatorial race decades.

The pair defeated Republican Tom Foley by around 6,000 votes.

Cafero said the two Democrats made a “surprise visit” to his caucus Monday.

“(It was) a very symbolic and very much appreciated show of a willingness to work together,” Cafero said.”It was a very nice, special moment for everybody.”

McKinney added, “If he wants to come meet with our caucus he’s absolutely welcome.”

McKinney said in a private discussion he told the governor-elect, “When I agree with you’ll I’ll be there, stand next to me. When we disagree we’ll try to bridge those differences. And when we agree to disagree we’ll do so respectfully.”

Asked whether Malloy’s razor thin victory should impact how he governs with a Democratic-majority General Assembly, Cafero said: “Does he have a mandate? I guess you could argue numerically certainly not. But he’s got the responsibility and we all owe it to him to wish him the best and work with him.”

But Cafero said Malloy should look at the results of last week’s federal elections, when Republicans reclaimed the majority in the House of Representatives two years after Democratic President Barack Obama’s 2008 victory.

“People like divided government. And for the first time in 20 years here in Connecticut we don’t have divided government. If we are going to work together, please heed those lessons,” Cafero said. “(Malloy) does have a choice. He could completely ignore the minority party … who represents over a million in this state. He could choose to ignore it. But I think President Obama might advise him if he does so he does so at his peril.”

McKinney said, “His mandate may only last as long as his first budget proposal … We’re elected to represent our constituents and we need to do that to the best of our ability as well.”

Both one-time Republican candidates for U.S. Senate believe they would have performed better against Democrat Richard Blumenthal than their party’s nominee, Linda McMahon.

Our story.

Throughout the race for governor, Democrat Dan Malloy promoted the wonky concept of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

GAAP is commonly recognized as the standard for financial statements and honest budgeting in the private, nonprofit and public sectors.

Connecticut’s government relies on a cash accounting system which critics like Malloy and his running mate, outgoing Comptroller Nancy Wyman, argue lacks transparency and is riddled with gimmicks which artificially inflate revenues and delay reporting of expenses.

So there’s a kind of irony in the fact that after chaos erupted in Bridgeport on Election Day Tuesday, delaying the final results of the race, Malloy and his backers were quick to declare victory based on estimates while Republican opponent Tom Foley and his supporters have been the parties insisting on greater transparency and a more accurate accounting of the votes.

“It is imperative that the voters of this state – whether they chose Dan Malloy or Tom Foley – know the counting was honest and fair,” state GOP Chairman Chris Healy said today.

You’d think the GAAP Governor would agree.

Malloy came under fire in the media for holding a premature victory press conference at the capitol Wednesday and announcing his transition team.

Hartford Courant columnist/radio host Colin McEnroe likened it to a “Seinfeld” episode, The Day of New London to a power grab.

Courant columnist Rick Green is backing Foley’s call for more information.

UPDATE: Malloy just issued the following statement:

“I appreciate and respect Tom Foley’s perspective, but as Nancy and I have been since early Wednesday morning, we are 100 percent confident that we have been chosen by the voters to be Connecticut’s next Governor and Lieutenant Governor.  And chosen by a margin comfortably outside what is required for a recount.”

“As is the case with more than a few other races in other states across the country, this race is taking a few extra days to play out.  Nancy and I think it should be allowed to play out in an orderly fashion and we support the process established by law.”

“We’re as anxious as everyone else is to get the final numbers.  We’re also continuing our intensive efforts to create an administration that is up and running, and ready for the challenges awaiting us when we take office on January 5. To do otherwise would be irresponsible.”