Comments

|

E-mail

|

Print

Perhaps.

Sources at the capitol last week said the state budget office was close to finalizing the audit of the New Haven Rail Yard.

The project caused a PR headache for Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell earlier this year when it was made public the costs had exploded from $300 million in 2005 to over $1.2 billion.

The Governor decided in June to spend $630,000 to audit the plans in the hope of cutting costs – an effort that has grown in importance now that the state is facing a $6 billion budget deficit.

Last week came and went with no audit released.

Today Jeffrey Beckham, spokesman for Rell’s budget office, said the results would be out “soon.” He declined to elaborate.

Comments

|

E-mail

|

Print

I’ll say this for Sen. Bob Duff, D-Norwalk – he’s persistent.

Completion of the Super 7 Expressway between Norwalk and Danbury is less likely than ever. Rather than reviving the decades-old project, fought by suburban/rural municipalities and environmentalists, state officials are in the midst of widening the old Route 7 to accommodate modern traffic flows.

But Duff has continually promised voters he will push lawmakers in Hartford to revive Super 7. And his latest effort came today.

Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell is compiling lists of “shovel ready” state and local infrastructure projects to present to the federal government should Congress pass another stimulus package with funding for such initiatives.

Duff today called on Rell to add Super 7 to the list.

“The use of Route 7 has long outpaced its orginal purpose and design and the federal government’s interest gives us a golden opportunity to finally get this project off the ground,” Duff said. “Route 7 has the potential to be the most direct and safe route between upper and lower Fairfield County. Small improvements are counterproductive.”

Rell spokesman Christopher Cooper said there are three reasons it would be difficult to add Super 7 to Rell’s list.

“This particular project … does not have all its permits in place. It does not have a final design. And there is no community agreement or consensus as to whether it should proceed,” Cooper said. “Other than that, it’s a great idea.”

UPDATE: Duff argues Super 7 has been on the books for so long there have GOT to be final designs sitting around somewhere at the Department of Transportation.

“This was the original shovel ready project – 40 years ago,” Duff said. ZING!!!

Comments

|

E-mail

|

Print

It’s been called “the curse” by some folks I know. Sure, Indiana Jones 4 was filmed in-state. But for every hit production lured to Connecticut by the new film tax credits, there’s a “College Road Trip” or a “Righteous Kill” that quickly disappears from theaters.

But following last week’s Golden Globe nominations, House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, who spearheaded the tax credits, noted three of the honorees were filmed or edited in-state – “Rachel Getting Married”; “Nixon/Frost”; and “Revolutionary Road”.

Amann said the nominations will serve to “bolster” the film industry he and others have sought to build in the state since first offering the tax incentives in 2006.

The timing of Amann’s announcement surely also has to do with the fact The Advocate recently wrote about how state officials are considering whether to continue offering the tens-of-millions in tax breaks to the film and television industries when Connecticut faces a $6 billion budget deficit.

Comments

|

E-mail

|

Print

Rep. Christopher Perone’s re-election in November meant not only would the Norwalk Democrat be returning to the General Assembly, but it assured him a continued spot in the “Bad Reps” band of lawmakers.

The group, organized by incoming House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, has a gig tomorrow morning around 7 a.m. on Chaz & AJ’s morning show on WPLR.

Specifically they will be one of the acts featured during the station’s toy drive in New Haven.

Donovan said the “Bad Reps” were invited after he appeared on the radio show and talked about his hobby playing guitar.

Perone, who also plays guitar, said the group was asked to perform one song. And, he added, despite the occasion, it will be a straight rock n’ roll performance.

“We’re not going to do holiday songs,” Perone said.

Comments

|

E-mail

|

Print

Last week Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell joined her colleagues from throughout the nation in Philly and asked Democratic President-elect Barack Obama to include financially troubled states in the next federal economic stimulus package.

Connecticut is facing a $6 billion plus budget deficit in the coming two fiscal years.

Today Rell released testimony her office sent to Congress in advance of hearings by the House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee.

Comments

|

E-mail

|

Print

Some celebrities might lend their face and voice to an issue for a few minutes or so. You know – travel to the capitol, hold a press conference with lawmakers, make a few comments, answer a question or two, shake some hands, sign some autographs and leave.

But Cosby, in town to discuss the importance of fatherhood, began his day at the capitol around 2:45 p.m. with a press conference.

It’s just about 5:45 p.m. and he has been sitting, testifying before a special legislative task force on fatherhood and fatherlessness, for about two hours now.

And it is not all about him. He came armed with national statistics and asked some locals from Hartford to accompany him and present their personal stories of growing up without a dad.

It’s impressive.

Comments

|

E-mail

|

Print

I just got around to reading a story that made some waves last week among political junkies.

A weekly newspaper obtained Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s daily schedule from the past few months and wrote a pretty critical story that she doesn’t do a hell of a lot.

That take on how the Governor spends her time is nothing new. The Hartford Courant wrote a similar story, also based on Rell’s daily schedules, last year.

And just about every Democrat in Hartford will, if asked, characterize Rell using words like “nice” and “disengaged.”

It was a worthwhile story to read if only to get folks thinking about how exactly a Governor should spend their day.

But as someone who has struggled with writing similar stories about elected officials and how they spend their time, I would have liked the reporter to perhaps build a better, more objective case that Rell has a too light schedule. Obviously he thinks so.

Aside from outlining a day in the life of former Republican Gov. John Rowland, the story mainly relies on criticisms from Democrats who are never afraid to go after Rell – House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford and Sen. Andrew McDonald, D-Stamford - and a former agency head Rell fired.

It might have helped to include interviews with non-partisans from in and out of state – professors of politics, good government groups, national legislative associations – who could perhaps explain the role of a Governor in a small state like Connecticut and whether Rell is meeting expectations or falling short.

What folks need to remember is that a lot of the policy-making gets done by the currently Democrat-majority legislature, which technically is only in session for, at the most, the first half of each year.

So that leaves several months where the Governor basically has to manage her various agency heads and perform ribbon cuttings and the like.

But how often should a Governor meet with her department heads? How involved should a Governor be in the daily or weekly work of her agencies? Is there even enough to do as Governor in Connecticut to warrant it being a full-time job? Should Connecticut Governors not have Chiefs of Staff or a Lt. Governor, forcing them to assume more duties? Do Connecticut residents want a Governor who is micromanaging everything or a Governor who is more hands off?

These are the things the article got me thinking about, so it did a good job there. I only wish it had also attempted to answer a few of these questions. But maybe the weekly or some of the rest of us in the capitol press will do so in the future.

What is certain is these types of stories are not going away any time soon. Rell has to decide whether to seek re-election in 2010. And whether she does or not, I’m pretty sure some of the potential Democratic contenders – Amann and Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy – will be campaigning on a platform of being more involved in state government.

Comments

|

E-mail

|

Print

So THIS is how Connecticut celebrated the 75th anniversary of the repeal of prohibition today.

According to a press release from the state Department of Consumer Protection, DCP Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr., who wears a second hat chairing the state Liquor Control Commission … get ready for it … paid visits to a pub and two wine and beer wholesalers.

Woo hoo.

San Francisco organized a parade and there were parties in other cities as well.

Oh but wait. I forgot. Connecticut is a state where the bars close early and you can’t buy alcohol on Sundays, holidays or in grocery stores. So never mind.