Wishing for the fairy-tale ending

Gov. Rell is not a happy camper.

Democratic leaders are opting not to take up her deficit mitigation plan during Friday's special session, and she feels that time is of the essence.

Instead, Democrats plan to address the state's $365.3 million deficit Jan. 14 -- after the General Assembly's new members take their oaths of office. Some Republicans, like House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, are happy that a specific date has been set for the deficit discussion, but Rell is frowning.

"If legislative leaders are determined not to act right away, they should at least wait until revenue estimates from the Jan. 15 tax collections are in," she said in a prepared statement. "My fear is that if the legislature acts on Jan. 14, they will be a day early and potentially millions of dollars short.”

But Jan. 2 -- only two weeks earlier -- is a fine time to deal with the deficit?

Let's say Democrats had decided to act Jan. 2, and they eliminated the deficit -- all of it. My guess is that they would be addressing another deficit of maybe a smaller amount before the end of the fiscal year.

Rell is likely right. Numbers do change and the most recent projections will help lawmakers make better decisions. However, does two weeks make a huge difference when we still have six more months left this fiscal year?

Should lawmakers wait until after the tax collections are in to act, or should they make decisions Jan. 14? Do you think they were wrong in deciding that they would not deal with the deficit Friday?

Just a little something to think about in these finals hours of 2008. Maybe if Connecticut residents wish really hard, when the clock strikes midnight, the deficit will be erased and the drama that comes with budget cuts can be avoided.

Happy New Year!

Are you planning to go to D.C.?

Today, I'm beginning to work on an inauguration story, and I'm looking for people who are heading to Washington, D.C., in January for the festivities. I hope to talk to people from Meriden, Wallingford, Cheshire and Southington who were lucky enough to get tickets from their local U.S. congressman or U.S. senator. I also want to talk to those who will be checking out the ceremony from the National Mall.

Once I find people going to D.C. for inauguration events and write an initial story, I hope to incorporate people's thoughts, experiences and reactions to the inauguration into my blog, particularly on Jan. 20 -- Inauguration Day. Submitted pictures would also be a great addition to Political Potpourri.

It is worth noting, that each U.S. congressman is distributing 198 free tickets to the inauguration. U.S. senators get to give out 393 tickets. That may seem like a lot, but offices are getting thousands of requests.

Anyway, if you are going to the inauguration, or if you know someone who is, please contact me. I want to tell my newspaper and blog readers about the inauguration, but to do so, I need your help!

Deep Throat dead at 95

W. Mark Felt played an important role in American history. He was Deep Throat, the famous anonymous source who helped two Washington Post reporters investigate the Watergate scandal. After details surfaced, President Nixon eventually resigned.

During Watergate, Felt was an associate director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

For years, Deep Throat was depicted in books and films as a prominent government figure who often tried to loom in the background, challenging authority so that the truth would be known. For over 30 years, people tried to guess who Deep Throat was, but Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, would not reveal their source. Then, in 2005, Felt told the world that he had helped the reporters, ending speculation.

Felt died Thursday at 95.

As a political reporter, the Watergate story and the relationship between Felt and Woodward has always captured my interest. People, particularly journalists and politicians, can learn a lot from the story. But with Deep Throat's identity revealed and Felt and Nixon now dead; will Watergate just become another page in a history book?

When I was studying journalism in college, we learned about Watergate. If I remember correctly, we were required to watch "All the President's Men." The printers in our computer lab were even named Woodward and Bernstein.

But as the years pass, I worry that people are going to forget. To make sure that doesn't happen, I am going to suggest a few books for you to add on to your last minute Christmas list. "All the President's Men," of course, is a must if you haven't read it already. I also thoroughly enjoyed "The Secret Man," which was published after Felt revealed that he was Deep Throat. "Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate" is also a good choice. All are written by Bob Woodward. Happy reading.

New appointments announced

Gov. M. Jodi Rell made some new political appointments this week and two of them have been from Wallingford.

Monday, Gaetano Zappala was nominated to the Elevator, Installation, Repair and Maintenance Examing Board. He will serve as the board's public member. Zappala is 71 and a self-employed hair stylist, and I'm gathering he's interested in elevators.

Today, Rell nominated Amalia Vazquez Bzdyra to be a commissioner of the state's Department of Public Utility Control. Since 2007, Bzdyra served as deputy commissioner of the Department of Social Services.

Rell's other appointment means a vacant Republican state House seat this January. Rell has also asked Rep. Kevin DelGobbo, a Republican from Naugatuck, to be a commissioner of the Department of Public Utility Control.

The minority party, which only holds 37 of the House's 138 seats, is losing someone who has served in the House since 1997. DelGobbo was a ranking member of the Appropriations Committee and was also a member of the Energy and Technology and Public Safety committees.

All legislative and executive nominations must be approved by the General Assembly.

Let's talk about jobs

I've been researching the state of our state today and saw that Connecticut has lost 7,100 jobs this fiscal year. October preliminary estimates show that only 3,600 jobs were lost.

The state comptroller points out that the rate of job loss is accelerating, and for many, that is scary.

I wonder if President-elect Obama will really save the day? What will it take for Connecticut, and the nation, to bounce back? Have you or your place of employment had to deal with layoffs?

If you are willing to share your story, please do. At the very least, in uncertain times, readers of Political Potpourri should know that they are not the only ones wondering what the future will hold.

The economy and unemployment rates are hot topics -- topics, I personally, wish we didn't have to talk about. But the problems are there, and we have to deal with them. So, let this blog serve as a place in cyber space where people can help one another by offering advice and trading stories.

Donovan makes appointments

The General Assembly does not convene for another month, but Chris Donovan, the incoming speaker, is getting down to business. He appointed his leadership team and his committee chairmen Thursday.

Donovan made his Meriden colleagues House leaders. Buddy Altobello remains a deputy speaker, and Cathy Abercrombie moved up in the ranks. She will be an assistant majority leader.

Add Sen. Tom Gaffey into the mix, and it looks like Meriden's delegation of four will all be leaders this year. Gaffey hasn't been named a Senate leader for 2009 yet, but he served as chief deputy president pro tempore last year. I don't expect that to change.

Towns near Meriden also are represented well when it comes to Donovan's leadership team.

Corky Mazurek and Zeke Zalaski are assistant majority whips, Joe Aresimowicz is an assistant majority leader and Mary Fritz is keeping her role as assistant deputy speaker.

Vickie Nardello will get to chair the Energy and Technology Committee -- a committee that tends to play a large role in today's society, and Mary Mushinsky is looking to foster systemic change by chairing the Program Review and Investigation Committee.

I know it's great for cities and towns to have people in high places, but did Donovan favor New Haven County? Did he make the right decisions?

For more on Donovan's appointments, check out tomorrow's Record-Journal.

Time to revisit state income tax?

Gov. Rell has sent testimony to Washington, D.C. Her thoughts on the economy will be given to the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations.

In her testimony, Rell specifically points out that bonuses for top executives and for those working on Wall Street will likely drop dramatically, which will impact Connecticut. The state is home to many of those workers, and Rell notes that Connecticut relies heavily on that sector for income tax revenue. She adds that income tax revenues are already down significantly.

I wonder if Rell's mention of the state income tax in her testimony means something? Does the state income tax system need to be restructured? Will it be?

Maybe it's too soon to tell. In addition to the state income tax, Rell also mentioned several other aspects of the economy in her testimony. I guess we will find out more about Rell's vision for the future in her February budget address.

But as we wait, we do know that Rell recognizes one thing when it comes to Connecticut's economy.

"Connecticut’s projected budget deficits make one thing crystal clear: Connecticut’s government today is larger than our taxpayers’ ability to pay for it," Rell states in her testimony. "In Connecticut, we cannot afford to pretend otherwise."

Praise comes Donovan's way

So there was this guy from Meriden at "Chris Donovan this is your life" last week. His name was Jeffrey Freiser, and he is actually the executive director of the Connecticut Housing Coalition.

I mention him, because he is a local guy who has known Chris for years through the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, and while we had a nice chat, his comments never made it into my story. Like it or not, a reporter can't always fit everything they know into one article.

Anyway, Jeffrey, who first met Chris in 1991, was talking about how much the soon-to-be speaker of the House likes people. (It's a good thing, because Chris had to mingle and make the rounds Thursday. More than 400 people showed up at the CCAG fundraiser.)

Jeffrey also spoke about how years ago, politicians were the enemy for community organizers like Chris. Community organizers were always angry that policians would not listen or make committments, he said. Now as a politician, Chris doesn't want to repeat those sins, Jeffrey said. People can be so cynical about politics and Chris wants to show that there is a different way to represent communities, he said.

Jeffrey was not the only one to praise Donovan last week. He got a lot of praise from many different people, including his wife and kids and his colleagues in the legislature.

Rep. John C. Geragosian, a Democrat from New Britain, mixed his praise with several jokes, including a reference to when Chris began to plan his climb up the leadership ladder. He had plenty of time to plan after former Speaker of the House Moira Lyons stripped him of a chairmanship about six years ago, Geragosian said, and the packed room at the Four Points laughed. Moira was sitting in the audience.

Geragosian also referenced Donovan's ties to labor unions. He works for one, but says he will leave his job when he becomes speaker next month. Unlike some, Geragosian didn't see Donovan's union background as a negative.

"I say it's about time that we have a speaker that is for working families," he said.

These details show that many are excited that Chris will be taking the reigns. They see him as a charasmatic and capable leader. My question to Political Potpourri leaders is; what do you see? After reading the newspaper stories, watching him in action and possibly meeting Chris, what do you think he brings to the table? And who do you think he will represent as speaker of the House?

Just a little update

So, if you are anxiously waiting for interesting tidbits from the Chris Donovan / CCAG event, I'm afraid you are going to have to wait until next week. I've had a busy weekend with some police and local news to report on, and this blog has had to take a back seat. But keep checking, because I plan to write something more on Thursday's event soon. I promise!

Donovan rocks the House

Want to make Chris Donovan turn bright red? Give him a large audience, the spotlight and some praise.

I just returned from "Chris Donovan this is your life." It was a fundraiser for the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, but it was basically a Donovan love fest. And I have to say...it was hysterical.

You should have heard all the teasing he got from family and friends! And of course, there was a performance by The Bad Reps. That's Donovan's band. He plays the guitar.

Anyway, I'm heading home now, but I'm going to write more about the event tomorrow. It was quite the political gathering--well Democratic gathering. Many of the state's power players were there, and I want to share more. Stay tuned!

Talk of a stimulus plan continues

To Political Potpourri readers: I'm sorry it's been a while since my last entry. I was on vacation.

But I'm back now, and I want to know what you think should be included in a second economic stimulus package.

Gov. Rell and several of the nation's governors met with president-elect Obama Tuesday and an economic stimulus package was at the heart of the discussion. Many, including Rell, want to see a stimulus package that channels federal money to public infrastructure projects.

Should this happen? Would it work to revive the economy? What Connecticut projects should get the funding, and who will make those decisions?

It appears to be a decent plan -- one that will benefit the 50 states, but I'm still left with many questions.

And on a personal note, I would not mind seeing another stimulus plan that requires the federal government to send me a check. It's tough times for all, and I'm willing to bet most people would not mind the extra cash. I'll take it.

Obama hype continues

I can't pass up a chance to comment on an Associated Press story I just read.

A New York elementary school got a name change mid-school year, mid week. Ludlum Elementary School is now Barack Obama Elementary School.

The local school board voted to rename the school Thursday and the change was to take place immediately.

I can only imagine being like seven. Your bus drops you off at Ludlum Thursday. But on Friday, you step off the bus to find that the name has been changed.

I wonder what Ludlum's mascot is. Maybe the school board should have waited until the Obamas decide on their new pet before changing the school's name?

It could have also waited to change names until Obama was officially sworn in as president.

The school name change clearly illustrates the hype surrounding Obama. Many, including our own state's leaders, have high hopes for the incoming president. They believe that Obama will change the direction of a frustrated country. That's a lot of pressure on one man.

And as for the change that has been promised and is expected? As Obama appoints more and more seasoned Washington insiders, I am growing increasing skeptical. A revised Clinton administration doesn't exactly scream reform.

Lieberman's future takes shape

The news is out. U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., lost a chairmanship for supporting the Republican presidential candidate -- just not the chairmanship people expected him to lose.

Lieberman will no longer lead a subcommittee that has jurisdiction over the Environmental Protection Agency. He, however, will continue to chair the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

It looks like Lieberman lucked out.

Were Democrats right in telling him he can't lead the subcommittee? Should he have lost the more prestigious chairmanship instead? Did Democrats play it smart?

I guess the answers to these questions depend on who you ask.

State looks to lend a hand

The state is putting money into Connecticut's Insurance and Financial Services Center for Education Excellence to help companies affected by the economic downturn. The center will help the companies assess the capacity of their work force. It will also provide training to help companies meet new business requirements.

The center was established in 2006.

Don't worry -- Connecticut is not dipping into the state budget to make this work. It is using $250,000 from a federal grant.

"The upheaval on Wall Street has taken a difficult toll on some of our largest employers including banks and insurance companies – and far too many workers and their families have felt the pain," said Gov. Rell in a prepared statement that just arrived in my inbox. "Connecticut is especially susceptible to the ups and downs of the market because so many of our residents work on Wall Street or work for companies with important Wall Street connections."

The additional services are a nice gesture, but will it make a difference?

Additional note: If you are looking for more information on the center or on how companies can participate, call (203) 610-8528.

Newspapers at risk

I am a firm believer that most things are political in the end. That and this is my little spot in cyber space. Within reason, I get to write what I want.

Right now, I want to write about the state of the newspaper industry. And no, I don't intend for this to be a boring lecture-like blog.

Newspapers aren't doing too well lately. It's tough economic times for all, but newspapers seem to be taking a hit -- and have been taking that hit for a while now.

I've grown concerned about the industry, particularly over the past week.

The Day of New London announced they were laying off another 11 employees last week. I believe nine of them were from the newsroom.

Then came the announcement by the Journal Register Company that it will be closing several of its papers, including the New Britain Herald.

The company followed up that announcement with more talk of layoffs today. The New Haven Register is planning to eliminate about 20 jobs.

Thankfully, the Record-Journal's publisher says Meriden's hometown paper is doing O.K., but that doesn't change what is happening to newspapers nationwide.

It is depressing to see an industry -- one that has served the American people for so long -- start to fade.

One of my favorite quotes is the following: "Journalism is the first rough draft of history."

I desperately want to believe that is still true.

I'm not a math whiz, and I certainly do not claim to know all about the newspaper industry, but I do recognize that the industry will not survive when publications close and when so many jobs are cut. Soon, eager young journalists will follow another career path, and America will lose out on creating that first rough draft of history.

That is my initial reaction to the recent announcements. Beyond that, I welcome all thoughts. We need to work together to get this industry back on its feet.

Victory in the fight for a right

When the state legislature voted in favor of civil unions in the spring of 2005, I was there -- as an intern. I was interning at the Capitol with the Journal Inquirer, and at that time, I really had no idea just how historic one of my assignments would be.

As lawmakers in the Senate debated legalizing civil unions, I remember sitting in the chamber frantically scribbling down notes. I distinctly remember the lawmakers going back and forth about the definition of marriage, and I remember Sen. Andrew McDonald rising to tell his colleagues that the civil union legislation did not threaten the religious institution of marriage.

But despite the passage of the bill, several lawmakers were still fearful. They were wondering what was next.

Sen. John Kissel is a good example. Like many Republicans, including Governor Rell, he said he believed marriage should be limited to one man and one woman. He also said the effort over the years to legalize same-sex marriage showed that civil unions were just one more step toward that goal.

The latter part of his statement proved to be true. Thanks to the state Supreme Court, same-sex couples in Connecticut can get marriage licenses beginning today.

It's a ruling that has received national attention, and the hype could validate another one of Kissel's predictions. If same-sex marriage is legalized in Connecticut, advocates will use the state as a springboard to launch a national issue, Kissel said in 2005.

Personally, I'm anxious to see how the nation will react. The issue of same-sex marriage has been hotly debated and many are passionate about the matter. Change takes time, and I'm guessing that it will be a little while before other states follow Connecticut's lead.

Do note that Connecticut and Massachusetts are the only states that allow same-sex marriage.

In the end, I guess the questions we ask today are the same questions that have been discussed for years. Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry, and why should they have to fight for a right that many take for granted?

Lieberman faces top Democrats

Politics can be a tough arena. Just ask Joe Lieberman.

Joe was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1988, and in recent years, he hasn't had it easy.

Right now, his chairmanship is in jeopardy. He is chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Why?

He is an Independent who alligns with Democrats, but he backed Republican John McCain for president. And he just didn't quietly support McCain; he was loud about it. Loud enough to raise serious concerns among Democratic leaders.

As I said, things can get rough in politics.

But here's the thing. Joe was elected as an Independent. Is he at fault because he has his " political freedom," but still chooses to allign with Senate Democrats, or are Democrats at fault for keeping Joe in the inner circle?

And for those who seek cooperative lawmakers who want to work together, I guess there is another question. Why can't everyone just get along?

The situation Joe finds himself in shows us two things: partisan politics at its best and beytral. Afterall, maybe holding on to Joe was the Democrats way of giving him a second chance after he lost the Democratic primary to Ned Lamont in 2006. In their eyes, maybe Joe failed to take advantage of the political lifesaver that was thrown his way.

2009 legislature takes shape

There was a Senate Democratic caucus today and the group decided it intends to reelect Donald E. Williams Jr, D-Brooklyn, as president pro tempore and Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, as majority leader.

Williams was first elected as the Senate's president pro tempore in July 2004. Looney has been majority leader for six years.

There are now 24 Democrats in the Senate and 12 Republicans. All senators will officially vote on leaders on the first day of the legislative session, which is scheduled for Jan. 6.

The House Democratic caucus is expected to meet tonight to decide its leaders. Current House Majority Leader Chris Donovan, D-Meriden, will likely be the choice for speaker of the House, while Denise Merrill, D-Mansfield, is said to be getting the nod for the position of majority leader.

It is important to note that Democrats have a veto-proof majority in both chambers after Tuesday's elections. The House has 114 Democratic members, while the Senate has 24.

Sharing Election Day thoughts

It was much anticipated, but now Election Day is over.

I waited for numbers in Waterbury with U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy and his supporters yesterday. Murphy won another two years by beating his chief opponent, David Cappiello, by a pretty good margin (57 percent to 41 percent).

Cappiello lost in Danbury, his own hometown. You should have heard the cheers from Murphy's fans. I think taking Danbury made their night.

But it was not Murphy who stole headlines Tuesday. There was an Obama victory and a Shays defeat to talk about.

While Connecticut's Chris Shays' loss is certainly notable because he was the last New England Republican in the U.S. House, I am choosing to write about Obama today. Afterall, his victory is notable too. He will be the country's first black president.

Being that I have a degree in sociology, this intrigues me. It should be interesting to see how the country responds as time goes on. I want to believe the United States has coming along way since the 1960s and the Civil Rights Movement, but sometimes I'm not so sure.

But there is one thing I do know. Obama will be talked about for years to come -- and not just for being president. College professors and other intellectuals are going to have a field day analyzing him, and most of those discussions will -- right or wrong -- happen because of the color of his skin.

I'm willing to bet these discussions would not happen if he were white. Oh well, I guess it is good that we can at least talk about race relations now. Call it progress.

Pay attention to all political races

The secretary of the state's office is reporting a record number of registered voters in Connecticut. Susan Bysiewicz says the state has more than 2.09 million voters.

Furthermore, she is saying that since Jan. 1, more than 134,000 people have registered to vote.

It is nice to see that people are choosing to register to vote, but it remains to be seen whether they will actually go to the polls tomorrow.

I know there is a lot of hype surrounding this year's presidential race, but will Connecticut residents flock to the polls, or will they just be names on voter registration lists?

Also, are voters only paying attention to the presidential race, or are they also taking note of the state House and Senate races?

It is refreshing to see people registering to vote, but I hope that people care about more than just who will be the next president. State and local elections are important too. Local, state and federal governments work together and that symbiotic relationship should not be ignored.

Soliciting opinions on convention

I've spent most of my work week learning about Connecticut's constitutional conventions. I've been reading up on the few rules the state has regarding conventions, and I've spent a great deal of time studying the 1965 constitutional convention.

This was not a boring assignment by any means.

I have to admit, I was captivated by the history. I had the pleasure of talking to Hamden's Lawrence DeNardis, a former state senator and U.S. congressman, and Charles M. McCollam, a former state representative from Bethel, about their experiences as delegates. They are one of the few 1965 constitutional convention delegates still alive, and they were clearly proud of their affiliation with the historic convention.

If you didn't already know, 1965 was the last time Connecticut amended its constitution through the convention process.

Anyway, voters will get to decide next week if they want to hold a state constitutional convention. It's question No. 1 on the ballot. There are groups lobbying for both yes and no votes, and it has actually become a topic that many are discussing.

I've talked to those involved in the political arena, college professors and to those representing the groups lobbying for or against the question. I, however, haven't heard from the average Connecticut resident. I want to know what people think.

Should there be a constitutional convention, and is it worth it when the General Assembly gets to decide how delegates are selected?

Let me know your thoughts, and pick up a copy of Sunday's Record-Journal if you want to learn more about the 1965 constitutional convention!

Why so many uncontested races?

I don't know if anyone read my story on uncontested state political races. It ran in Tuesday's Record-Journal. If you didn't, the link to the story is featured at the end of this blog.

Anyway, this year there are 53 uncontested House races in Connecticut and seven uncontested Senate races. Keep in mind, the Secretary of the State's office is taking into account both unopposed races and races where a candidate is not facing a major party opponent when they came up with these numbers.

Locally, Republican Sen. Leonard Fasano, Republican Rep. Vincent Candelora and Democrat Rep. Joe Arisimowicz are running unopposed.

Notably, Fasano has not run against an opponent since he was first elected in 2002. Wallingford's Democratic Town Committee chairman says that no one has stepped forward and wanted to run against either Fasano or Candelora, who is just wrapping up his first term in the legislature. Money and time play a role when it comes to potential Democratic candidates, Vincent Avallone said.

Most people, including Avallone, seem to think that the state's new public financing system will provide an incentive for people thinking about running for office. They think the new system evens the playing field, and come 2010, they are hoping that more people want to get involved in politics.

Is money the main reason why people are not running for office, or is it something more -- like apathy?

I'd like to believe it's only about money and time. Those are certainly valid reasons not to run. I, however, have my doubts. Call me cynical, but I'm more inclined to believe that maybe money and time are excuses rather than reasons.

Read the Story


P.S. My sympathies to the family and friends of Dan Hunter. Hunter, vice president of Meriden-based Hunter's Ambulance and Transporation Services, died this morning as a result of injuries he suffered when his motorcycle collided with a car in East Hartford Oct. 15.

Amann quietly gets endorsements

Instead of worrying about his reelection, Jim Amann is counting endorsements.

The speaker of the House, a Milford Democrat, announced in April that he was leaving the legislature at the end of this year. He has served as a state representative for 18 years.

But Amann is not ready to leave the political arena quite yet. He is considering a run for governor in 2010 and has been collecting endorsements from various groups as his colleagues in Hartford concentrate on reelection campaigns.

Every so often, his endorsements land in my inbox. One day, the Connecticut Motorcycle Riders Association was giving their seal of approval; today, the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut announced that it supports Amann in his quest to become the state's top elected official.

Amann has not officially declared that he's in the 2010 race, but he is testing the waters. He wants to see if he has the support to be a competitive candidate.

Rumor has it that Senate President Pro Tem Don Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, is also someone interested in being the Democratic nominee for governor. Williams was first elected to the Senate in 1993.

We know both Amann and Willians have the legislative experience, but how would they do leading the Nutmeg State? Can either one beat Gov. Rell if she decides to seek another term? Although Connecticut is a Democratic state, the Republican governor is a popular one.

I'm undecided. Thankfully, we have two years until we need to make our decisions, and it will be interesting to see the 2010 race for governor take shape.

Another one bites the dust

Rep. George Wilber

"And another one gone, and another one gone..."

I am willing to bet that Queen wasn't writing lyrics about Connecticut's politicians, but those lines can be applied regardless.

Let's take a moment to reflect on the past few years.

Former Republican Gov. Rowland resigned in 2004. He was at the center of a corruption scandal and impeachment was being discussed.

Then came former Sen. Ernie Newton, a Democrat, who resigned in 2005 -- a day before pleading guilty to bribery, tax evasion and mail fraud.

Both got sentenced to prison.

Former Senate Minority Leader Louis De Luca, a Republican, resigned in 2007. He was being investigated by the Senate's Bipartisan Committee of Review after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor threatening charge.

Did I miss anyone?

Now, I guess it was the Democrats' turn to have someone resign.

Rep. George Wilber's last day as a lawmaker will be Nov. 1. The Democrat from Colebrook gave the Secretary of the State his resignation last night. He also dropped out of his November race.

Wilber allegedly paid $100,000 to a woman who claimed he sexually abused her as a child. He denies the allegations.

But he resigned. Why resign if you did nothing wrong? Wouldn't you fight to keep your job and your reputation?

Regardless, it looks like Democrats are already down a seat for next year. Republican John Rigby is the only one running in the 63rd House District now, and it's too late for the Democrats to replace Wilber.

But if the pattern of resignations continues, it looks like the next scandal in Hartford will be a Republican one. I guess things have a way of evening out in the end.

Debate brings back a memory

I just returned to the office from the 5th District debate at Four Points by Sheraton in Meriden. There was a really good turn out. I'd say there were about 300 people in attendance, mostly senior citizens. The debate was sponsored by AARP.

A few Meriden local leaders were there, including Mayor Rohde and probably about half the City Council.

This debate was less heated than the last one I attended in Waterbury, and the candidates have not changed their position on any issues. As a result, the core of the debate resembled the one held last week, minus some of the finger pointing.

Anyway, with everyone now briefed on the debate, I am ready to share a story. The debate brought back a memory.

About a year or two ago, the debate's moderator, Susan Raff, a reporter for Channel 3, and I were part of a throng of reporters covering a press conference at the Capitol in Hartford. For those of you who have never experienced a political press conference, they can get ugly.

Today, I cannot tell you the topic of that press conference, but I do remember Raff's microphone hitting me in the head as she pushed to get closer to Speaker of the House James Amann. I applaud Raff for being agressive, but it hurt.

Oh, the trials and tribulations of daily journalism.

Candidates to debate in Meriden

I'm thankful that it's Friday. I'm worn out.

As a news staff this week, we had to get everything together for the annual voter's guide. It is expected to be published later this month and will be a resource for local voters. So, read it, enjoy it, frame it...whatever works for you.

In addition, I had to write a profile about state Sen. David Cappiello, which will be in Sunday's paper. As you hopefully know by now, he is running for Congress against U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy.

I also spent a decent amount of time this week working on a story about ethics and Cappiello and Murphy. That should appear in tomorrow's paper. Oh, and I can't forget about the 5th District debate I covered in Waterbury.

That's a lot of politics in 40 hours.

Even so, as I sit here waiting for my editor to finish reading my stories, I am already thinking ahead to next week. For me, that means more politics.

An important event to note is Monday's 5th District congressional debate at Four Points by Sheraton in Meriden. It is sponsored by the AARP, scheduled to start at 10 a.m., and Murphy and Cappiello are the only candidates asked to participate.

I, personally, would like to see Harold Burbank, of the Green Party, and Independent Thomas Winn be asked to participate in these debates, but I guess the hosts have certain qualifications and rules for candidates and Burbank and Winn don't meet them.

The United States does allow and encourage freedom of speech, however, and I would like to see Burbank and Winn try to share their views with voters in other ways. You don't necessarily need a debate to be heard.

Regardless of what candidates are participating, I hope to see Political Potpourri readers at the Four Points Monday!

Listen to Rell about breast cancer

As the week winds down, I've been very busy writing about the 5th District congressional race between U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy and state Sen. David Cappiello. As a result, I don't have much time to write a great political blog.

I did, however, want to write something to keep this blog as active as possible, and so I decided to mention a press release I received today from the governor's office.

Gov. Rell wants to remind everyone that tomorrow, Oct. 17, is National Mammography Day, and she is promoting the importance of breast cancer screening and early detection, especially for those over 40.

Rell is a breast cancer survivor, and I think, on this issue, women should listen to her.

As a side note, her press release said that Connecticut had the third highest rate of new cases of breast cancer in the United States between 2000-2004. I did not know this.

Forum on reforms scheduled

Being that Connecticut's new criminal justice reforms came about largely because of the home invasion in Cheshire, I thought I would mention that the General Assembly's Appropriations and Judiciary committees are holding a forum on the 2008 reforms Thursday.

It starts at 1 p.m. in room 2C of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, is expected to last about three hours and is open to the public.

There are several invited guests, including Robert Genuario, the governor's budget director, and Robert Farr, chairman of the state's Board of Pardon and Paroles. New Haven State's Attorney Michael Dearington will also be there.

Take note of report on Palin

I can't help but notice that few people are talking about the Alaska report that came out recently about Gov. Sarah Palin.

For those who don't know, an independent legislative investigation recently concluded that Palin violated ethics laws and abused her power as governor when she pressed to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper. The matter went all the way to the Alaska Supreme Court.

I think this is a big deal, especially since she is running for vice president. Afterall, she is portraying herself as someone who is trying to do the right thing -- a reformer.

Even if she wasn't in the national spotlight, I think it would still be a big deal. Being governor is a high-profile position and that person is expected to follow the rules.

For example, think about the hype concerning ethics laws and the position of governor in Connecticut recently. Remember the fundraiser lists and invitations that caused a stir? Like Palin, Gov. M. Jodi Rell paints herself as a reformer, and Connecticut does not waste any time in pointing out where she, or her staff, has gone wrong.

If Connecticut is going to talk about ethics when it comes to Rell and former Gov. John Rowland, it should also be talking about Palin and this new report.

We now have less than a month until Election Day, and voters need the most information they can get about candidates -- especially this year.

Top honors for local lawmakers

Sen. Len Fasano, R-North Haven, was named the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association's Legislator of the Year this week.

The association says they recognized Fasano for his work on legislation that tightened existing laws regulating the purchase and sale of scrap metal.

"Police throughout the state were responding to increased reports of metal theft -- everything from electrical wiring, statues to stadium bleachers," Fasano said in a prepared statement. "That metal was ending up at scrap yards, being sold illegally for cash."

While Fasano already has his award in hand, House Majority Leader Chris Donovan, D-Meriden, is waiting for his. Donovan will get the Connecticut Chapter of the American College of Physicians' Legislator of the Year award at the group's annual meeting in Southington.

The chapter is honoring Donovan for his work on a health care pooling bill that would have allowed municipalities, small businesses and nonprofits to join the state's health care plan. The bill was passed by the General Assembly and vetoed by the governor.

U.S. may have low expectations

This blog entry -- the first for Political Potpourri -- is being written less than 24 hours after Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin battled it out in the only vice presidential debate this campaign season.

Well, I'm not quite sure it was a battle, but that's for you to judge.

I watched at least half of the debate on CNN last night, but then I lost interest. I truly did try to get into it, but found myself just watching the clock, wondering when the back and forth would end.

And that's from someone who actually enjoys following politics and currrent events.

Today, I've heard reaction from other news outlets and my colleagues about the debate. Everyone seems to be thinking the same thing -- Palin didn't fail miserably and both candidates did better than expected. People, however, add that it was hard to identify a winner, or a stronger vice presidential candidate.

That is a problem.

It is a problem when our country has low expectations for people who are positioned to assume the most important roles in our society. It is a problem when one of those two people will be chosen to help lead the country, particularly during a time of war and economic uncertainty.

And it scares me that people might have the same low expectations for the presidential candidates as well.

It seems to me that many have the "anyone is better than Bush" attitude. I get it. People don't like the outgoing president. But the United States needs a strong, capable leader to take his place, and I'm not sure believing that anyone is better than Bush will give us that.

So, what do you think? Being that this is my first blog entry, I want to take a moment to encourage readers to respond and to share their thoughts! I look forward to reading them.

Oh, and while you are waiting for a new blog entry, feel free to check out another Record-Journal blog, Convention Coverage 2008. It was written specifically for the Democratic and Republican national conventions, but if you crave a daily dose of politics, you can see pictures taken at the conventions and entries submitted by your local elected officials.