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As the week comes to a close, Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell and new House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden are vying for which can make the most controversial choice of candidate for a state job.

Rell started off last weekend by nominating Greenwich’s Linda McMahon, chief executive of Stamford-based World Wrestling Entertainment, for a seat on the state school board.

McMahon, according to Rell, has the background for the role, although these fun videos of her WWE exploits kicking a man in the groin and fighting with her daughter have been making the rounds and raising eyebrows.

Then on Friday Donovan tapped his immediate predecessor, just retired House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, for a $120,000 senior advisor job. The backlash is threatening to … um … body slam whatever embarrassment Rell’s choice of McMahon was causing the administration.

Amann, thanks to blogger CT Bob, has some footage of his own out there for folks to peruse.

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New House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, just announced he has selected his immediate predecessor, Democrat Jim Amann of Milford as a “senior advisor.”

“In his new role, Amann will provide assistance and advice on legislative and administrative matters and will assist the Speaker with work groups that focus on key legislative initiatives. In addition he will help extend the community outreach initiatives of the Office of the Speaker, organizing regional meetings and events with business and advocacy groups across the state,” reads the press release.

Amann officially retired on the opening day of session last week to focus on a gubernatorial bid in 2010.

I’m inquiring whether this is a paid position with benefits or just honorary. Even if it’s the latter, Amann still benefits by keeping a high profile in Hartford and getting more face-time around the state, all of which will help as he seeks the Democratic Party’s nomination for Governor.

And this is also some good news for the state’s film industry.

UPDATE: Amann will earn $120,000. He and Donovan in separate interviews told me he cannot use the job as a platform for running for Governor, although that might be easier said than done.

Amann said during lunch and after hours he can “put on his gubernatorial hat” but Donovan didn’t seem to want Amann to be weighing in on what the current legislature is doing. So off the bat it seems like this has the capacity to be real awkward.

Amann also said while his new job could help his run for office, it could backfire depending on how Donovan does as Speaker.

“If I don’t do a good job, it may not be (helpful). If Speaker Donovan’s term up there is a failure, I think I’d have to be part of that responsibility,” Amann said.

And a shocked House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, wants Amann to pull out of the race for Governor.

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In a brief interview today, Dan Livingston, chief negotiator for the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition, scoffed at the notion House and Senate Republicans wanted to show solidarity with state unions during hard times by proposing cuts to legislative salaries.

House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, and his colleagues during Wednesday night’s debate argued lawmakers should make symbolic sacrifices if they expect public employees, municipalities and residents to do the same during the budget crisis.

“It’s absolutely viewed as political gamesmanship,” Livingston said in response. “If the Republican lawmakers wanted to do something constructive they’d be suggesting ways to increase revenues … This is a real economic crisis out there. It needs real solutions.”

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On Saturday Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced she tapped Stamford-based World Wrestling Entertainment’s chief executive, Linda McMahon of Greenwich, to join the 11-member state Board of Education for an initial, two-year term.

McMahon, who founded WWE with her husband Vince McMahon, is, according to Rell, no stranger to education.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in the subject from East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. McMahon has also been involved in several education groups, including helping create literacy outreach programs and is a member of Fairfield-based Sacred Heart University’s board of trustees.

But the choice is raising some eyebrows in Hartford because of this footage being circulated of McMahon. Husband Vince and daughter Stephanie show up first, but Linda eventually gets into the act.

Perhaps McMahon’s approach will help raise test scores.

UPDATE:This footage is even better, but you need some patience. Now, to be fair, clearly this is all acting on the part of McMahon and her daughter. And when other Connecticut actors, like the great Paul Newman, spoke, people took them seriously despite the roles they played. So why not McMahon?

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Citing what they argue are lower-than-anticipated enrollment numbers, the General Assembly’s Democratic-majority yesterday took $3.7 million out of the Charter Oak health plan’s remaining budget to help address the state deficit. The move leaves a balance of $7.3 million for the current fiscal year that ends June 30.

“The slow start of the Charter Oak health plan made it a logical choice for cost savings, since enrollment and expenses have not yet lived up to expectations, nor are they expected to by the end of the fiscal year on June 30,” said Sen. Jonathan Harris, D-West Hartford, co-chairman of the public health committee, in a statement.

Launched last July to provide healthcare for uninsured adults ages 19 through 64, Rell’s Charter Oak plan has had a hard time signing up physicians and hospitals wary of its low reimbursement rates.

According to the Department of Social Services, Charter Oak so far as 4,649 enrollees.

The plan has become a punching bag of sorts for Democrats critical of how it has been managed by Rell and DSS and by healthcare advocates concerned it is an inadequate attempt to address the state’s uninsured population.

But the Governor and DSS have continually said they are committed to making the program work, signing up more physicians and clients.

Harris was careful to add Charter Oak is not being singled out.

“That being said, this is not the first well-intentioned state program that has had its budget cut, nor will it be the last,” he said.

There was no word from Rell yesterday on the decision, but it is likely she or her staff would have reacted quickly were the administration totally opposed to the Charter Oak cut.

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Retired Sen. William Nickerson, R-Greenwich, is being feted tonight from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Richards of Greenwich.

The event is sponsored by Soundwaters and the bipartisan list of guests includes “honorary chair” Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat and Greenwich resident, Sen. Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, Sen. Andrew McDonald, D-Stamford, House Minority Leader Larry Cafero, R-Norwalk, and the Greenwich delegation.

But lawmakers do not even appear close to taking up the bill they came to Hartford for today that would help address the current deficit. So while Rell and Blumenthal will probably make the roast, the legislators are still stuck up here at the capitol.

McKinney said the day was going so slow – lawmakers were also confirming judges – he might be able to make the drive to Greenwich, speak, head back, and still not miss a thing.

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I’ve written about how lawmakers are weighing the value of the state’s film and television tax credits, which have lured many big stars to lower Fairfield County, in the face of a growing budget deficit.

Now it turns out the industry has gone and hired some lobbyists – Gaffney, Bennett and Associates, Inc.

I guess if anyone needed more proof the industry was concernd the credits are on the line, this is it.

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… the health insurance pool, that is.

According to House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell has assigned Stamford’s own Mike Fedele to participate in legislative negotiations about opening up the state employee health insurance to municipalities, non-profits and small businesses.

Donovan got a bill opening the state insurance “pool” passed by the General Assembly last year. He argued it would provide a good option for those entities struggling with health insurance costs and could also save the state money by increasing Connecticut’s negotiating power with health insurers.

Rell vetoed the legislation over concerns about implementation and costs to taxpayers but also indicated she was willing to work on the issue with Donovan.

“Last week I called the Governor and said ‘you always said you wanted to start working on this, why don’t we start?’” Donovan said.

Donovan expects the working group will also include the chairmen of the legislature’s public health, appropriations and human services committees.

“We’re starting with the disagreements we have with the Governor. We’re going to sit down and see what we can work out,” Donovan said.

There is a growing movement to open up the state’s health insurance to ensure every resident some type of health coverage. And President-elect Barack Obama has also pledged to move ahead with healthcare reform.

“If we find out midway through (Obama) has a whole new plan, go for it,” Donovan said. “But if we can start saving cities and towns money right now, why wait?”