Health care debate open on the U.S. Senate floor, an exhaustive report on the state budget published

Here are highlights of last week’s political news that concern Connecticut.

The U.S. Senate voted 60-39 to bring Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D – NV) health care legislation – estimated to cost $848 billion – for a floor debate. The two Connecticut Senators – Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman – voted with the majority. The Congressional Budget Office reported that, if signed into law by President Barack Obama, 31 million uninsured American citizens will receive health care, and federal deficit will be reduced by $130 billion over the next ten years through 2019.

A legislation that will give the Food and Drug Administration new authorities in regulation of food safety is being considered in the Senate HELP Committee, if signed into law. A bill sponsored by Senator Chris Dodd (D – CT) is added to that legislation. His bill reportedly includes federal guidelines regarding food allergies in schools and resources needed by schools to address the issue.

Republicans blocked a bill sponsored by Chris Dodd which would have freezed credit card interest rates and fees. Senator Thad Cochran (R – MS) objected “on behalf of several Senators on this side of the aisle”. If it had been passed into law, these freezes would have been imposed until the protections of the Senator Dodd’s so called Credit Card Bill of Rights take effect on February.

The Senate Banking Committee, chaired by Senator Dodd, introduced a legislation that is aimed at reforming the financial system. Financial regulatory reform initiatives, changes in executive compensation guidelines for public companies and corporate governance at public companies are reportedly among the main areas that the bill is going to address.

Meanwhile, it has been announced that Vice-President Joe Biden is coming to Hartford, Connecticut on December 11 for a fundraiser for Senator Dodd, while the Connecticut Green Party leaders hinted that they are going to ask Ralph Nader to run in the Senate race next year.

$64.6 million for military construction projects in Connecticut’s Bridgeport, Middletown and Hartford plus $300 million for the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) – which is designed for protecting military families from losing their homes – may go to Connecticut, as reported on Senator Joe Lieberman’s (I – CT) website. The Senate version of this bill should first be reconciled with the House version.

The U.S. Department of Energy granted Milford close to $550,000 from its Conservation Block Grant Program to help the city meet its energy efficiency through measures such as energy audits, and implementation and development of advanced building codes and inspections, as reported on Senator Lieberman’s website.

A bill that would aid local fire departments in spending on training, equipment, hiring and buying vehicles was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. All Connecticut Representatives voted for the bill which was received in the Senate.

The House also passed a bill that would amend Medicare through revising its reimbursement to physicians system. All Connecticut Representatives voted for the bill which was received in the Senate.

Speaking of health care, Aetna laid off 160 of its Connecticut employees. 625 were the total number of Aetna employees fired this week. The reason for the layoffs, Aetna points out, is the economic downturn.

Governor M. Jodi Rell released Office of Policy Management’s Fiscal Accountability of State Government – an exhaustive report on Connecticut’s economy, budget issues, (un)employment rate, active Sub-Prime and Alt-A home loans, tax rates compared to other states, bond ratings, and other governmental issues for the next five years.

Speaking of unemployment, Governor Rell announced that Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. will relocate its corporate headquarters to Stamford. 800 jobs are reported to be created as a result of the move.

In the upcoming elections next year, state Senator Sam Caligiuri is likely to run either for Governor or for Representative Chris Murphy’s (D – 5th District) seat. He is currently running for the GOP nomination for the Senate seat that Chris Dodd is occupying. Justin Bernier, Dan Carter, Bill Evans, Mark Greenberg and Kie Westby have announced that they are running for the Republican nomination for the general election in Fifth District.

The Connecticut Department of Labor was awarded $3.9 million in federal stimulus grants from its federal equivalent to develop a “Green Job Bank”, as reported on Governor Rell’s website.

The governor also announced that twenty-three service plazas located along major highways will be given on a concession to create more businesses, thus creating jobs and diversifying service options for traveling state and non-state residents.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal vowed to seek legislation that would address the issue of medical mistakes in hospitals by requiring them to disclose such cases in reports, as reported by CTNewsJunkie.

State Representative Jason Bartlett (D) was arrested for driving with an expired registration and a suspended driver’s license. He was first pulled over for talking on the phone while driving.