After first announcing her candidacy in Naugatuck, where she grew up, Sen. Antonietta Boucher, R-Wilton, the latest pol to set sights on the Governor’s Residence or there abouts, arrived in the Capitol the other day shortly after the Regulation Review Committee overwhelming approved regulations that will set in motion next week the state’s medical marijuana program. Since she filibustered against the program in the Senate last year for about half of the nearly 10-hour debate, including about three-and-a-half hours of standup monologue, reporters asked for a response to the bipartisan committee vote. She declined, saying she wants to look ahead to bigger things, like the state’s economic problems. That’s kind of refreshing, since many candidates like to run for higher office on their legislative records.
Here is a rough time listing of the debate, transcribed off the CTN video, prior to the 21-13 vote at 2:34 a.m. on May 4, 2012: The times listed are the minutes into the debate.
2:37-2:49 – Sen. Eric Coleman, D-Bloomfield, co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, explaining the bill
2:49-3:12 – Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, ranking member of the Judiciary Committee
3:12-5:45 – Sen. Boucher’s initial 2.5-hour opposition
5:47-6:13 – Sen Boucher & Sen. Coleman
6:13-6:35 – Sen. Boucher
6:35-6:42 – Sen. Boucher & Sen. Coleman
6:42-7:33 – Sen. Boucher
7:33-7:47 – Sen Boucher & Sen. Coleman
7:47-7:53 – Sen. Boucher
7:53-7:56 – some conversation with Lt. Gov Nancy Wyman, presiding officer of the Senate
7:57 – Sen. Michael McLachlan, R-Danbury
7:59 – Sen. Jason Welch, R-Bristol-Thomaston
8:03 – Sen. Len Fasano, R-North Haven
8:06 – Sen. Rob Kane, R-Watertown-Oxford
8:08 – Sen. John McKinney, R-Fairfield
8:17 – Sen. Anthony Musto, D-Trumbull-Bridgeport
8:19-8:22 – vote
8:22-8:24 – Sen. Boucher
8:24-8:26 – Sen Boucher & Sen. L. Scott Franz, R-Greenwich
8:27-8:45 – Sen. McKinney & Sen. Boucher
8:46-8:59 – Sen. Coleman & Sen. McKinney
9:00-9:094 – Sen. Welch
9:04-9:07 – Sen. Len Suzio, R-Meriden
9:07-9:09 – vote
9:09-9:11 – Sen. Boucher
9:11 – ??
9:12-9:16 – Sen. Boucher & Sen. Welch
9:16-9:22 – Sen. Franz & Sen. Boucher
9:23-9:24 – Sen. Boucher
9:25-9:35 – Sen. Fasano & Sen. Coleman
9:35-9:39 – Sen. Suzio
9:39-9:44 – Sen. McLachlan
9:45 – Sen. Suzio
9:46 – Sen. Boucher
9:49 – Sen. Suzio
9:50-9:51 – Sen. Welch
9:51-9:56 – Sen. Boucher
9:56 – Sen. Welch
9:57-10:09 – Sen. Boucher & Sen. Franz
10:09-10:26 – Sen. McKinney
10:26 – Sen. Welch
10:28-10:30 – vote
10:30-10:32 – Sen. Boucher
10:32-10:52 – Sen. Fasano
10:52 -11:06 – Sen. Boucher
11:06-11:28 – Sen. Kane & Sen. Coleman
11:28 – Sen. Coleman
11:29-11:31 – vote
11:31-11:40 – Sen. Suzio
11:40-11:42 – Sen. Welch
11:42-11:51 – Sen. Musto
11:51-12:00 – Sen. Coleman
12:01-12:02 – Sen. Joe Markley, R-Southington
12:02-12:11 – Sen. McKinney
12:11-12:18 – Sen. Boucher
12:18-12:22 – Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, D-Brooklyn, summing up
12:22-12:23 – vote
Those who voted against the bill included McKinney, who has also announced his gubernatorial intention and stands a much better chance of winning the GOP nomination than Boucher, whose candidacy could be construed as an interest in running for lieutenant governor; Sen. Paul Doyle, D-Wethersfield; Suzio; Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford; Sen. Joan Hartley, D-Waterbury; Sen. Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford; McLachlan; Boucher; Welch; Kane; Fasano and Frantz.