Elections, grants, lawsuit, legalizing keno
Here are past week’s highlights from the political life in Connecticut.
In a special election for state Representative in Stratford, Republican candidate Laura Hoydick won against Democratic candidate Janice Andersen. The seat was previously occupied by the current Stratford Mayor John Harkins who is also a Republican.
A coalition of United States Senators, which includes U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman (I – CT), introduced a legislation that would repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy which prevents gay Americans from revealing their sexual orientation while serving in the military and discriminates against them based on their sexual orientation. Besides Senator Lieberman all of the other cosponsors of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010 are Democrats.
U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D, CT – 3rd District) and 21 other Representatives introduced a legislation – the Health Insurance Rate Authority Act of 2010 – that would address premium rate increases.
Connecticut was granted $7 million from the stimulus package’s Transit Investments for Green Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program. The money will be spent on changing the fuel systems on 37 buses from fuel-only to energy-efficient hybrids. It was estimated that the effort will save approximately 25,000 gallons of fuel from each of the buses.
The state applied but was not among the top sixteen finalists for the Phase 1 of the Race to the Top money, a $4 billion grant program whose purpose is to improve education nationwide.
Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell issued a Deficit Mitigation Plan that seeks to reduce government spending by $504 million for the 2010 fiscal year. The General Assembly has to approve of the plan before it takes effect.
Meanwhile, Connecticut became the 17th state to join Complete College America, a national non-profit organization aimed at increasing the number of young adults with a college degree, according to a press release by Governor Rell.
On the tax side, Democrats in the legislature are considering imposing a tax surcharge on workers who get bonuses of more than $1 million from banks that accepted Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds. The proposal is part of a legislation concerning preserving and creating jobs in Connecticut.
The Rell Administration started talks concerning legalizing keno as a gambling game in the state with Connecticut’s two Indian tribes. The National Indian Gaming Commission which oversees casinos nationwide has ruled keno as a casino game, according to Chuck Bunnell who is Chief of Staff for the Mohegan Sun’s Mohegan tribe. Estimations indicate an additional $60 million to the state, if keno is legalized as a gambling game in Connecticut.
Hartford Courant reporter Rick Green proposed that the state make additional revenue by auctioning guns confiscated by the state police. He argues that “some of these firearms are collector’s items and would pull down big money at an auction.” However, according to the General Assembly Public Safety Committee member –state Representative Chris Caruso – such an act will put guns “back in the cities,” thus having the potential to increase crime rates.
Connecticut Ethics Agency Chairman G. Kenneth Bernhard is currently under investigation by its Board for allegations that he made monetary contributions to three Republican campaigns. A subcommittee of three members was formed to review the allegations. Mr. Bernhard’s position is unpaid. In response to critics, Kenneth Bernhard confessed that what he did was a violation but denied claims that it was unethical.
Representatives from the universities that are controlled by the state expressed disapproval of a bill that would require their Board of Trustees to report any tuition changes in front of a legislative committee. The idea about the bill came after a tuition increase in the University of Connecticut (UCONN) by almost 6% a few weeks ago.
A lawsuit against state Representative James O’Rourke (D – Cromwell) was filed in the Superior Court, according to media reports. The lawsuit apparently claims that Mr. O’Rourke wrongfully caused the death of state employee Carol Sinisgalli (41) on January 2009. According to the suit, Carol Sinisgalli had an altercation with employees at Digger McDuff’s Tavern the night before her death after which the employees locked her out without her cell phone, purse and house keys. The suit claims that State Representative O’Rourke attempted to drive her home but about a half mile from her condo she decided to jump off the car barefoot and without her coat. According to police, she was later discovered death close to the railway in Rocky Hill. The medical examiner later concluded that she died of hypothermia. The state’s attorney decided on June 2009 that there was not enough evidence to charge state Representative O’Rourke with criminally negligent homicide.
In electoral politics, U.S. Senate candidate Vincent Forras – a businessman from Ridgefield, a father of 7 and a volunteer firefighter – was not allowed to participate in a debate on March 2 between Republican candidates for Senator Dodd’s seat – former U.S. Representative Rob Simmons, businessman Peter Schiff and former WWE corporate officer Linda McMahon Linda McMahon – inside the Lincoln Theater sponsored by the Hartford Courant and FOX 61. According to the Courant and FOX 61, Mr. Forras was an independent. The Ridgefield businessman was listed by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) website as an independent by mistake. His Treasurer Joseph Manuele filed him as a Republican but the website was not updated accordingly a day before the debate. A later check on the FEC website by the Courant showed that Mr. Forras was listed as a Republican. On March 1, there was a debate between Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate – state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Mystic businessman Merrick Alpert.
Regarding the state’s budget deficit, Republican hopeful for Governor Tom Foley stated that cuts of at least $1 billion need to be made immediately and that “small ideas and small, tentative steps won’t get the job done.” At a press conference at the state Capitol, he stated that the Citizens’ Election Program (CEP) – the state’s campaign finance program – should be discontinued. According to him, discontinuing the public finance program would save the state $60 million.
Mr. Foley also opposed the 53 health-care related mandates two of which, according to him, are “third-rail issues that make Connecticut radioactive as unfriendly to business” but would not eliminate them himself. Democratic hopeful for Governor – former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy – deemed Mr. Foley’s stand on the issue “not understanding what he was saying,” and Lieutenant-Governor Michael Fedele – another Republican hopeful for Governor – read Tom Foley’s position as “handing off responsibility” and “not knowing how to go about big numbers” when it comes to spending cuts.
Connecticut Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz didn’t appear at the Superior Court for the hearing of the lawsuit that she filed against her own state party, its Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo, and the Office of the Secretary of the State and the State of Connecticut. The suit seeks to confirm that she meets all of the state’s requirements to run for Attorney General. Secretary Bysiewicz argues that the requirement of at least ten years of active legal practice on the territory of the state is not in accordance with the state Constitution and the U.S. Constitution’ First Amendment, and that she meets it anyway with her position as Secretary of State which, according to her claim “constitutes the active practice of law.” Declared candidate for the position is state Representative Cameron Staples (D – New Haven); undeclared candidates are former state Senate Majority Leader George Jepsen (D) and Republican activist John Pavia (R).
State Senate President Pro-Tempore Donald Williams (D – Brooklyn) officially endorsed Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont in the Governor’s race.
In a latest Rasmussen Poll result, Richard Blumenthal is leading Rob Simmons (58%-32%), Linda McMahon (60%-31%) and Peter Schiff (57%-22%) in the Connecticut gubernatorial race.