Connecticut Local Politics

“Don’t even compare, madam governor, your record on crime to mine because I’ll go toe to toe with you.”
-Speaker James Amann, to Gov. Rell. Rell’s spokesman Christopher Cooper responded with “Why the speaker thinks this is about him, I would not hazard a guess.”

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The International Association of Iron Workers Local Union 15 is making an endorsement. For governor. In 2010.
Even weirder, they’re endorsing Jim Amann.
I don’t understand any of the logic.

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“Rell is a very popular governor in Connecticut, and a ticket of diversity certainly wouldn’t hurt the Republicans […] If chosen, it would be an honor for the state.”
-Speaker Jim Amann, on the (remote) possibility of Gov. Jodi Rell becoming John McCain’s running mate.
I’m more and more convinced that the VP speculation surrounding Rell […]

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Speaker Jim Amann formed his exploratory committee to run for governor yesterday in Milford–but not everyone was happy about it.
To the more than 200 supporters, including a large contingent of Democratic state legislators who packed City Hall to the balcony, he said “Let’s have fun and shake things up a little. We’ll begin the journey […]

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Gov. Rell and Speaker Amann both publish pieces in the Courant defending their positions in the bonding fight.
Also, Chris Dodd talked with the Courant’s editorial board.
Chris Shays defends Broadwater, a project he has opposed in the past.
The quietest special election ever will be held in Shelton this coming Tuesday. Jason Perillo (R) faces off against […]

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As well they should:
Some Connecticut cities and towns are considering suing the state because millions of dollars for local school construction projects are tied up in a political impasse at the Capitol.
The state has missed more than $100 million in construction reimbursement payments to municipalities in August and September because Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell […]

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“We’re going to bang in, bang out.”
James Amann, on today’s special session. As expected, Amann will open then immediately gavel close the session, which had been called by the governor to deal with school bonding projects in the wake of her promise to veto the recent bonding bill.

Who do you support in the current […]

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The Hartford Courant has details:

State troopers have begun delivering notices to lawmakers that require them to appear for a special legislative session on Wednesday, the state Senate’s Democratic leader said Saturday.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell called the session to deal solely with school bonding projects after saying Friday that she will veto the $3.2 billion overall […]

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Here it is in full:
“The Governor is turning her back on people who care about important projects such as new school construction, bridge safety and road repairs, flood control and the Groton submarine base. These projects impact virtually every community, local property taxes, economic development and we believe they are needed, apparently this Governor does […]

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One thing about Gov. Rell that I’ve noticed is that whenever it seems like she’s proposing a useful and common sense plan, like spending $100 million on bridges, there’s some sort of horrible backstory to it. Well, that’s what Democrats are accusing her of once again:
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Amann said he had initially […]

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Speaker Amann on Democrats who think that not much progress was made during the session:
“They must be … brain-dead,” Amann said in an interview this week, punctuating the middle of that sentence with a qualifier that can’t be printed here.
Also:
“I’d like to know what session they were in,” Amann said. “You can go […]

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From the Courant:
State budget negotiators reached a tentative agreement Monday night on a deal that would provide large spending increases for health care and public education, but little relief for taxpayers.
The deal, which the House and Senate must still ratify, calls for keeping the popular property tax credit at the current maximum of $500, according […]

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They’ll solve all our woes!
Last week was a busy one for Connecticut’s budding film industry.
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio was in Thomaston filming his new movie “Revolutionary Road.” A casting call was held in New Haven for Steven Spielberg’s latest “Indiana Jones” film. And crews were in Kent preparing for Monday’s shoot of “Sisterhood of the Traveling […]

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It could happen. Progress has been made, I suppose. The progressive income tax is toast, but the estate tax cut is still on the table, apparently.
With the end of the fiscal year two weeks away, state budget negotiations suspended Friday short of a deal, even though Democrats and Republicans now agree the state can balance […]

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Where do we stand now that the regular session is over? Here’s my impressions. Feel free to correct me! I am, as you know, often wrong.
Winners

Republicans: I don’t remember the last time they were this fired up. They aren’t passing any legislation, but they’re blocking Democrat bills and scoring plenty of points against their opponents. […]

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