Looks like Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro could be partying Sunday at the White House.
The AP is reporting that DeLauro is one of 15 lawmakers invited to Obama's home for the Super Bowl. She is the only one from Connecticut on the list.
Obama has supposedly invited a bipartisan group, and it is another step in the president's effort to reach out to lawmakers. He is hoping to break down the partisan divide in Washington, D.C.
Do you think his efforts are working? Last I heard, Republicans were pretty set against his economic stimulus plan. Think inviting them over for some pizza and beer will help?
What can Obama do to bridge the gap? Will he succeed in unifying Congress? I think this brings us back to an age-old question. Why can't we all just get along?
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
More on Sen. Gaffey
For those interested in learning more about Sen. Gaffey's investigation, here's one of two stories about him today. Feel free to leave any thoughts.
Records detail Gaffey's PAC use, double-billing for hotels
By Amanda Falcone; Record-Journal staff
With state reimbursement and money from his political action committee paying the way, Sen. Thomas P. Gaffey opted to stay in posh rooms at some of the nation's most luxurious hotels while attending events for the National Conference of State Legislators, according to a Record-Journal review of state records.
State documents and finance reports for Gaffey's political action committee reflect instances in which Gaffey billed both the state Office of Legislative Management and his political action committee for conference trips and one instance in which money from the political action committee was used to pay for a hotel upgrade.
In a recent interview, Gaffey and his attorney, Thomas Luby, acknowledged the doublebilling, calling it an oversight that occurred as a result of the senator's busy schedule. But records also show that Gaffey and a staff member were notified of state reimbursement for trips through at least two memos from the Office of Legislative Management.
The state Elections Enforcement Commission launched an investigation into Gaffey's political action committee, the Government Action Fund, in January 2008. The investigation is pending.
Tom Swan, executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, said he believes elections enforcement is correct in looking into the matter, adding that paying back money to his political action committee is an acknowledgement by Gaffey that he did something wrong.
Elections enforcement may choose to use Gaffey's situation as a way to change or clarify state laws, Swan said.
"PACs are not designed to be personal bank accounts," he said.
One of the trips in question occurred in August 2005 when Gaffey attended a National Conference of State Legislators' meeting in Seattle with his then-girlfriend Patricia Murphy. The Office of Legislative Management rejected some of the expenses he submitted for reimbursement, because the numbers did not correspond with Gaffey's submitted written request for out-of-state travel, documents show. The department adjusted the senator's voucher to reflect the four nights - the length of the conference - for which Gaffey initially requested payment. His expense form said he was looking to get reimbursed for five nights at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, the most expensive Seattle hotel option of the 17 choices offered to attendees.
About three months after legislative management declined to pay for the additional night, a charge of $294.77 - the cost of one night plus tax at the Fairmont - showed up on finance records for Gaffey's political action committee.
Gaffey says he used his PAC to pay for one additional night in Seattle because he attended a Democratic leadership council luncheon. He paid for other extra nights out of his own pocket, he added, noting that billing the state for a fifth night must have been an error made by staff when the paperwork was submitted.
Gaffey, however, signed off on the forms.
"It wasn't really life in the fast lane, by no stretch of the imagination," he said this week. When he went to a National Conference of State Legislators' seminar in February 2006, he stayed at a three-star luxury waterfront hotel, the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina, rather than the suggested hotel, the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk. The Wyndham Harbour Island Hotel, where the conference was held, had already been sold out when Gaffey went to make reservations.
Gaffey says he remembers both the Wyndham Harbour and Sheraton hotels being booked. As a result, he said, he took a room at the Marriott just down the street. The $244 per night cost at the Marriott, however, was more than the cost of a night at the Sheraton, and legislative management only reimbursed Gaffey at the rate he could have gotten at the Sheraton by identifying himself as a seminar participant: $149.
Gaffey then charged both the state and his PAC for the Tampa trip, another example of double- billing.
Another instance occurred when Gaffey and Murphy went to an August 2006 meeting of the national legislative conference in Nashville, where he opted to stay in a $359-pernight suite with a garden view at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center rather than a single room that would have been fully reimbursed by the state.
Upon arriving at the resort, Gaffey says, Murphy was ill, so they took the first room available - a suite at the discounted rate of $233.65 per night, which, Gaffey added, was not the fancy room some might envision.
Legislative management paid the approved nightly room rate of $179 instead of the cost of the suite. For his three-night stay, the state reimbursed him $613, and Gaffey's PAC was billed $ 1,015. The difference in cost was due to the room choice, Luby said. While the state can only reimburse for the cost of a single room at a hotel, Luby said those rules do not apply to a political action committee.
The Elections Enforcement Commission declined to comment when asked whether this was an appropriate use of PAC money, citing the investigation into the Government Action Fund.
Records show Gaffey doublebilled again for a one night-stay in 2007 at the Hotel George, described as a "hip boutique hotel" in Washington. Gaffey attended a meeting at the White House about the federal No Child Left Behind law. According to state records, his PAC was billed $449.19 for the hotel stay. The state paid the same, and also paid his other travel expenses.
Elections enforcement is looking into the Government Action Fund's expenditures, receipts and campaign finance disclosures, and Gaffey expects to pay a fine at the completion of the investigation. In addition to double-billing, Luby says, the state is also concerned about the misuse of a PAC cell phone, the reporting of credit card use on disclosure forms and other issues.
Because of his many work, legislative and family responsibilities, Gaffey says he often signs paperwork on the fly. He also said any state reimbursement is included in his paycheck, and he did not realize he was paid back for his trips until about 2007 because the reasons for reimbursement that appeared in his checks were not labeled.
Documents obtained by the Record-Journal under the Freedom of Information Act, however, show that in at least two instances, when discrepancies were found, Gaffey and a member of his staff received memos from legislative management telling the senator when to expect the reimbursement.
Legislative management sent a memo dated Feb. 6, 2007 to Gaffey's legislative aide, Robin Havelin, about Gaffey's Nashville trip, saying that Gaffey was reimbursed in his February 2007 paycheck.
A September 2005 memo was sent directly to Gaffey.
"Enclosed please find a copy of your adjusted employee expense voucher submittal for NCSL Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA. FYI, a travel reimbursement … has been processed and will be included in your Oct. 2005 payroll check," the memo stated.
"I've never seen those documents until someone recently FOIed them," Gaffey said this week.
Initially, Gaffey planned to pay back his PAC for the trips with any reimbursement he received from the state, he said, but because of the oversight, he pocketed the extra cash that came in his paycheck.
When he realized what had happened over the years, Gaffey said he began to reimburse the PAC until elections enforcement told him to hold off on any additional payments until the amount he owed was officially determined. To date, Luby says, Gaffey has written four personal checks to the committee for an amount totaling a little more than $2,000.
At least $500 of that money was not an issue of double reimbursement, but rather Gaffey paying for Patricia Murphy's January 2007 trip to Washington, for the swearing-in of U.S. Rep. Christopher S. Murphy, Luby said. Gaffey originally billed his PAC for Patricia Murphy's expenses, but after checking with elections enforcement decided to be conservative and make the payment out of pocket, Luby said, adding that he believes Patricia Murphy's trip would have been a legitimate expenditure out of the PAC because she was a volunteer on the freshman congressman's campaign.
Although there are many questions regarding Gaffey's political action committee, Luby said Gaffey never tried to gain personally from the Government Action Fund. In fact, he made personal sacrifices for the public benefit, Luby said. For example, Gaffey had to take vacation time from his job at the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority to attend the various conferences and never asks for mileage reimbursement.
"A mistake has been made, but not a mistake motivated by self-benefit," Luby said.
Records detail Gaffey's PAC use, double-billing for hotels
By Amanda Falcone; Record-Journal staff
With state reimbursement and money from his political action committee paying the way, Sen. Thomas P. Gaffey opted to stay in posh rooms at some of the nation's most luxurious hotels while attending events for the National Conference of State Legislators, according to a Record-Journal review of state records.
State documents and finance reports for Gaffey's political action committee reflect instances in which Gaffey billed both the state Office of Legislative Management and his political action committee for conference trips and one instance in which money from the political action committee was used to pay for a hotel upgrade.
In a recent interview, Gaffey and his attorney, Thomas Luby, acknowledged the doublebilling, calling it an oversight that occurred as a result of the senator's busy schedule. But records also show that Gaffey and a staff member were notified of state reimbursement for trips through at least two memos from the Office of Legislative Management.
The state Elections Enforcement Commission launched an investigation into Gaffey's political action committee, the Government Action Fund, in January 2008. The investigation is pending.
Tom Swan, executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, said he believes elections enforcement is correct in looking into the matter, adding that paying back money to his political action committee is an acknowledgement by Gaffey that he did something wrong.
Elections enforcement may choose to use Gaffey's situation as a way to change or clarify state laws, Swan said.
"PACs are not designed to be personal bank accounts," he said.
One of the trips in question occurred in August 2005 when Gaffey attended a National Conference of State Legislators' meeting in Seattle with his then-girlfriend Patricia Murphy. The Office of Legislative Management rejected some of the expenses he submitted for reimbursement, because the numbers did not correspond with Gaffey's submitted written request for out-of-state travel, documents show. The department adjusted the senator's voucher to reflect the four nights - the length of the conference - for which Gaffey initially requested payment. His expense form said he was looking to get reimbursed for five nights at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, the most expensive Seattle hotel option of the 17 choices offered to attendees.
About three months after legislative management declined to pay for the additional night, a charge of $294.77 - the cost of one night plus tax at the Fairmont - showed up on finance records for Gaffey's political action committee.
Gaffey says he used his PAC to pay for one additional night in Seattle because he attended a Democratic leadership council luncheon. He paid for other extra nights out of his own pocket, he added, noting that billing the state for a fifth night must have been an error made by staff when the paperwork was submitted.
Gaffey, however, signed off on the forms.
"It wasn't really life in the fast lane, by no stretch of the imagination," he said this week. When he went to a National Conference of State Legislators' seminar in February 2006, he stayed at a three-star luxury waterfront hotel, the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina, rather than the suggested hotel, the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk. The Wyndham Harbour Island Hotel, where the conference was held, had already been sold out when Gaffey went to make reservations.
Gaffey says he remembers both the Wyndham Harbour and Sheraton hotels being booked. As a result, he said, he took a room at the Marriott just down the street. The $244 per night cost at the Marriott, however, was more than the cost of a night at the Sheraton, and legislative management only reimbursed Gaffey at the rate he could have gotten at the Sheraton by identifying himself as a seminar participant: $149.
Gaffey then charged both the state and his PAC for the Tampa trip, another example of double- billing.
Another instance occurred when Gaffey and Murphy went to an August 2006 meeting of the national legislative conference in Nashville, where he opted to stay in a $359-pernight suite with a garden view at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center rather than a single room that would have been fully reimbursed by the state.
Upon arriving at the resort, Gaffey says, Murphy was ill, so they took the first room available - a suite at the discounted rate of $233.65 per night, which, Gaffey added, was not the fancy room some might envision.
Legislative management paid the approved nightly room rate of $179 instead of the cost of the suite. For his three-night stay, the state reimbursed him $613, and Gaffey's PAC was billed $ 1,015. The difference in cost was due to the room choice, Luby said. While the state can only reimburse for the cost of a single room at a hotel, Luby said those rules do not apply to a political action committee.
The Elections Enforcement Commission declined to comment when asked whether this was an appropriate use of PAC money, citing the investigation into the Government Action Fund.
Records show Gaffey doublebilled again for a one night-stay in 2007 at the Hotel George, described as a "hip boutique hotel" in Washington. Gaffey attended a meeting at the White House about the federal No Child Left Behind law. According to state records, his PAC was billed $449.19 for the hotel stay. The state paid the same, and also paid his other travel expenses.
Elections enforcement is looking into the Government Action Fund's expenditures, receipts and campaign finance disclosures, and Gaffey expects to pay a fine at the completion of the investigation. In addition to double-billing, Luby says, the state is also concerned about the misuse of a PAC cell phone, the reporting of credit card use on disclosure forms and other issues.
Because of his many work, legislative and family responsibilities, Gaffey says he often signs paperwork on the fly. He also said any state reimbursement is included in his paycheck, and he did not realize he was paid back for his trips until about 2007 because the reasons for reimbursement that appeared in his checks were not labeled.
Documents obtained by the Record-Journal under the Freedom of Information Act, however, show that in at least two instances, when discrepancies were found, Gaffey and a member of his staff received memos from legislative management telling the senator when to expect the reimbursement.
Legislative management sent a memo dated Feb. 6, 2007 to Gaffey's legislative aide, Robin Havelin, about Gaffey's Nashville trip, saying that Gaffey was reimbursed in his February 2007 paycheck.
A September 2005 memo was sent directly to Gaffey.
"Enclosed please find a copy of your adjusted employee expense voucher submittal for NCSL Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA. FYI, a travel reimbursement … has been processed and will be included in your Oct. 2005 payroll check," the memo stated.
"I've never seen those documents until someone recently FOIed them," Gaffey said this week.
Initially, Gaffey planned to pay back his PAC for the trips with any reimbursement he received from the state, he said, but because of the oversight, he pocketed the extra cash that came in his paycheck.
When he realized what had happened over the years, Gaffey said he began to reimburse the PAC until elections enforcement told him to hold off on any additional payments until the amount he owed was officially determined. To date, Luby says, Gaffey has written four personal checks to the committee for an amount totaling a little more than $2,000.
At least $500 of that money was not an issue of double reimbursement, but rather Gaffey paying for Patricia Murphy's January 2007 trip to Washington, for the swearing-in of U.S. Rep. Christopher S. Murphy, Luby said. Gaffey originally billed his PAC for Patricia Murphy's expenses, but after checking with elections enforcement decided to be conservative and make the payment out of pocket, Luby said, adding that he believes Patricia Murphy's trip would have been a legitimate expenditure out of the PAC because she was a volunteer on the freshman congressman's campaign.
Although there are many questions regarding Gaffey's political action committee, Luby said Gaffey never tried to gain personally from the Government Action Fund. In fact, he made personal sacrifices for the public benefit, Luby said. For example, Gaffey had to take vacation time from his job at the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority to attend the various conferences and never asks for mileage reimbursement.
"A mistake has been made, but not a mistake motivated by self-benefit," Luby said.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Capitol locked down for drill
When I was in school, we had fire drills, but never intruder drills. Today, I'm participating in my first intruder drill.
"This is the state Capitol Police, your attention please," an officer is reciting. "This is a drill. I repeat, this is a drill."
As I type people are banging on the Capitol press office door, and an alarm is sounding. The Capitol is locked down right now, and the police want everyone in a safe and concealed area with the doors locked.
Good thing I wasn't roaming the Capitol in search of politicians this morning.
I am, however, wondering how long this drill will last. With the alarm sounding, it is kind of hard to make any phone calls. I don't want to misquote anyone because I can't hear them properly.
While I wait out the drill, I think I'll make a nice cup of hot chocolate and write a little more of a story for tomorrow's paper. At least with intruder drills, you are required to stay inside rather than go out into the cold!
"This is the state Capitol Police, your attention please," an officer is reciting. "This is a drill. I repeat, this is a drill."
As I type people are banging on the Capitol press office door, and an alarm is sounding. The Capitol is locked down right now, and the police want everyone in a safe and concealed area with the doors locked.
Good thing I wasn't roaming the Capitol in search of politicians this morning.
I am, however, wondering how long this drill will last. With the alarm sounding, it is kind of hard to make any phone calls. I don't want to misquote anyone because I can't hear them properly.
While I wait out the drill, I think I'll make a nice cup of hot chocolate and write a little more of a story for tomorrow's paper. At least with intruder drills, you are required to stay inside rather than go out into the cold!
Friday, January 23, 2009
DCF commissioner gets arrested
The commissioner of the state Department of Children and Families was charged with driving under the influence on I-91 Thursday. Any thoughts?
Note that she got pulled over at 6:45 p.m. on a week night.
Susan Hamilton, who was appointed to her commissioner's job a few years back, will actually appear in Superior Court in Meriden Feb. 6.
The commissioner before Hamilton was Kristine Ragaglia. Ragaglia told a federal grand jury in 2004 that she received many of the same gifts that were used to bribe others in former Gov. John G. Rowland's administration while she was commissioner.
Can DCF really help the children who need it when they have their own trouble to deal with? Have you had to deal with DCF before? What are your experiences?
Note that she got pulled over at 6:45 p.m. on a week night.
Susan Hamilton, who was appointed to her commissioner's job a few years back, will actually appear in Superior Court in Meriden Feb. 6.
The commissioner before Hamilton was Kristine Ragaglia. Ragaglia told a federal grand jury in 2004 that she received many of the same gifts that were used to bribe others in former Gov. John G. Rowland's administration while she was commissioner.
Can DCF really help the children who need it when they have their own trouble to deal with? Have you had to deal with DCF before? What are your experiences?
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Critique the new president
Sitting at the Capitol today, I've been listening to CNN in the background. Apparently, President Obama is creating some change already.
What do you think of some of his initial moves? Can he keep the momentum he had during campaign season going while in office?
America has high expectations for their new president. Will the pressure be too much, or will he rise to the occassion?
P.S. Here's a special thank you to those who checked in from Washington, D.C. this week. They certainly decorated this blog with great pictures, and I enjoyed hearing their stories.
What do you think of some of his initial moves? Can he keep the momentum he had during campaign season going while in office?
America has high expectations for their new president. Will the pressure be too much, or will he rise to the occassion?
P.S. Here's a special thank you to those who checked in from Washington, D.C. this week. They certainly decorated this blog with great pictures, and I enjoyed hearing their stories.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Inauguration moments captured
Scenic shot of Washington, D.C. during the inaugural parade.
State Rep. Elizabeth Esty, left, Daniel Esty, center, and Sarah Esty, right, dress up for the Green Ball Monday.
The inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. * Pictures courtesy of Sarah Esty.
More pictures from D.C.
The crowd watches President Obama's speech on the big screen.
A crowd gathers for the inauguration.
* Photos courtesy of Edward Canty.
Pictures of the Eastern Ball
The following photos are of the Eastern Ball and are courtsey of Sarah Esty.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Canty tries to get out of D.C.
Cheshire's Edward Canty is looking for a way out of D.C.
The Metro was shut down and the crowds are still thick in the city, he said. Canty is trying to make it back to his daughter's home to relax. He has been up since 3:30 a.m. He got in line to get his seat for the Inauguration at 5:30 a.m.
Because of the cold, people are crowding coffee shops and other restaurants and stores, trying to stay warm, Canty said.
Canty promised that more pictures will be coming soon!
The Metro was shut down and the crowds are still thick in the city, he said. Canty is trying to make it back to his daughter's home to relax. He has been up since 3:30 a.m. He got in line to get his seat for the Inauguration at 5:30 a.m.
Because of the cold, people are crowding coffee shops and other restaurants and stores, trying to stay warm, Canty said.
Canty promised that more pictures will be coming soon!
Photo courtesy of Edward Canty. Canty, right, and his daughter pose with U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5th, in Washington, D.C.
Visuals of Murphy's open house
The following photos of U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy talking to constituents at his open house in Washington, D.C., are courtsey of Kristen Bossi.
Murphy overlooks crowd in D.C.
U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy sat with other members of Congress at today's Inauguration, getting a front-row seat for the ceremony. His seat overlooked the sea of people that gathered in Washington, D.C.
His wife and parents also are in D.C., but had to watch from a different location, and his young son, Owen, spent time with a babysitter in Murphy's Capitol office during the ceremony.
Murphy sat next to another Connecticut congressman, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney. The two were in agreement that Obama's speech was amazing, Muphy said.
His wife and parents also are in D.C., but had to watch from a different location, and his young son, Owen, spent time with a babysitter in Murphy's Capitol office during the ceremony.
Murphy sat next to another Connecticut congressman, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney. The two were in agreement that Obama's speech was amazing, Muphy said.
Photo courtesy of Kristen Bossi. U.S. Rep. Christopher S. Murphy chats with a constituent at an open house he hosted Monday in Washington, D.C.
Hey, hey, hey goodbye
Paul Daniels went to Washington, D.C., to make sure that former President George Bush left the White House. Mission accomplished.
"He's gone," he said. "I've got the photo to prove it."
Daniels said he had decent seats at today's Inauguration, but not close enough to see the ceremony. He had to rely on the large screens. People were everywhere, and they went crazy when Democrats took center stage, he said. They remained respectfully silent for the Republicans, he added.
The Inauguration ceremony itself was anticlimatic, Daniels said. President Obama gave a nice, straight-forward speech and then the crowd began to disperse, he said.
"He's gone," he said. "I've got the photo to prove it."
Daniels said he had decent seats at today's Inauguration, but not close enough to see the ceremony. He had to rely on the large screens. People were everywhere, and they went crazy when Democrats took center stage, he said. They remained respectfully silent for the Republicans, he added.
The Inauguration ceremony itself was anticlimatic, Daniels said. President Obama gave a nice, straight-forward speech and then the crowd began to disperse, he said.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Train ride proves entertaining
Paul Daniels woke up early this morning, driving on unplowed I-91 to Bradley International. His flight left at 6 a.m.
When he landed, he headed to Baltimore, where he and his wife are staying during Inauguration festivities. The couple then took a train from Baltimore to Washington, D.C.
On the train, Daniels said people were singing, "Amen" and "Happy Birthday" to the Rev. Martin Luther King. Everyone announced where they were from, he added, saying that there had to be someone representating every state. People talked to one another like they knew each other for years, Daniels said.
"It's incredible," he said of the atmosphere in D.C. "The atmosphere is like a party."
When he landed, he headed to Baltimore, where he and his wife are staying during Inauguration festivities. The couple then took a train from Baltimore to Washington, D.C.
On the train, Daniels said people were singing, "Amen" and "Happy Birthday" to the Rev. Martin Luther King. Everyone announced where they were from, he added, saying that there had to be someone representating every state. People talked to one another like they knew each other for years, Daniels said.
"It's incredible," he said of the atmosphere in D.C. "The atmosphere is like a party."
The Estys' have full calendar
State Rep. Elizabeth Esty and her husband Dan Esty, a member of Obama's federal Environmental Protection Agency transition team, arrived in D.C. today.
The airplane was full of people trying to figure out how they will navigate D.C.'s crowds, Dan said.
Elizabeth and Dan have a very busy two days ahead of them. Today, they will attend events hosted by U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy and U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd. They will also attend celebratory gatherings for Obama's transition team. At night, the couple will dress up for the Green Ball at the National Portrait Gallery.
Tomorrow, they will have seats on the west run of the Capitol for the Inauguration.
The airplane was full of people trying to figure out how they will navigate D.C.'s crowds, Dan said.
Elizabeth and Dan have a very busy two days ahead of them. Today, they will attend events hosted by U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy and U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd. They will also attend celebratory gatherings for Obama's transition team. At night, the couple will dress up for the Green Ball at the National Portrait Gallery.
Tomorrow, they will have seats on the west run of the Capitol for the Inauguration.
Maloney student checks in
When Adam Rowe's train to Washington, D.C., passed the Baltimore station Saturday, the Meriden native got a glimpse ofthe train Barack Obama was riding. Obama's train was stopped in Baltimore and secret service were swarming, he said.
Once in D.C., Rowe has been doing activities through a leadership program--the program that brought him to D.C. for the Inauguration. Monday, as he chatted with me by phone, former Vice President Al Gore was speaking. Rowe's homebase for the conference is at the University of Maryland.
About 7,000 high school students are participating in the leadership program, but despite the large numbers, Rowe said he managed to meet a girl from Florida who has family in Meriden.
The most exciting part of Rowe's trip so far was Sunday's concert. Rowe stood near the reflecting pool in the National Mall and was able to see and hear the show because of the large screens and speakers set up throughout the area.
"When Obama spoke, everyone stopped and listened," he said.
Keep watching for more from Rowe and others in D.C.!
Once in D.C., Rowe has been doing activities through a leadership program--the program that brought him to D.C. for the Inauguration. Monday, as he chatted with me by phone, former Vice President Al Gore was speaking. Rowe's homebase for the conference is at the University of Maryland.
About 7,000 high school students are participating in the leadership program, but despite the large numbers, Rowe said he managed to meet a girl from Florida who has family in Meriden.
The most exciting part of Rowe's trip so far was Sunday's concert. Rowe stood near the reflecting pool in the National Mall and was able to see and hear the show because of the large screens and speakers set up throughout the area.
"When Obama spoke, everyone stopped and listened," he said.
Keep watching for more from Rowe and others in D.C.!
Amann coming to Meriden
The day after he begins his new job as senior adviser to Speaker of the House Chris Donovan, Jim Amann will be in Meriden, but as a potential candidate for governor.
Amann, the recently retired House speaker, is scheduled to meet with the Meriden Democratic Town Committee at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The meeting will be at the Curtis Cultural Center.
Amann has not officially announced that he will run for governor, but said that he plans to make an announcement later this month.
Meriden Democratic Town Committee Chairwoman Mildred Torres-Ferguson works for Donovan, who served as majority leader under Amann. She is in charge of personnel and some chief of staff duties.
Is Amann's appearance in Meriden this week a coincidence, or is it politics at its best?
Amann, the recently retired House speaker, is scheduled to meet with the Meriden Democratic Town Committee at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The meeting will be at the Curtis Cultural Center.
Amann has not officially announced that he will run for governor, but said that he plans to make an announcement later this month.
Meriden Democratic Town Committee Chairwoman Mildred Torres-Ferguson works for Donovan, who served as majority leader under Amann. She is in charge of personnel and some chief of staff duties.
Is Amann's appearance in Meriden this week a coincidence, or is it politics at its best?
Inauguration excitement mounting
Over the next few days, I will be blogging about the Inauguration. I will not be in Washington, D.C., but I will be talking by phone to local people who are there.
Adam Rowe, a Meriden Maloney High School student, has already left me a voicemail. He was at the National Mall yesterday for the concert and to hear Barack Obama's brief speech. Judging by his message, he was quite excited to be part of it all. Hopefully, I'll be able to catch up with him more today to get more details.
Connecticut Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, leaves for D.C. today with his wife, and Meriden's Paul Daniels and his wife are also catching flights today. State Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Cheshire, and her husband, Dan Esty, will be attending Inauguration Day festivities, and like Rowe, some Wallingford students will be heading to D.C. to witness history.
Keep checking Political Potpourri for more on the Inauguration!
Adam Rowe, a Meriden Maloney High School student, has already left me a voicemail. He was at the National Mall yesterday for the concert and to hear Barack Obama's brief speech. Judging by his message, he was quite excited to be part of it all. Hopefully, I'll be able to catch up with him more today to get more details.
Connecticut Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, leaves for D.C. today with his wife, and Meriden's Paul Daniels and his wife are also catching flights today. State Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Cheshire, and her husband, Dan Esty, will be attending Inauguration Day festivities, and like Rowe, some Wallingford students will be heading to D.C. to witness history.
Keep checking Political Potpourri for more on the Inauguration!
Friday, January 16, 2009
A true political potpourri
I ran out of time to blog at the end of this week, but there are certainly a variety of topics to talk about, and I wanted to take a moment to initiate discussion!
I'd love to hear your thoughts about Meriden Sen. Tom Gaffey. He's being investigated by the Elections Enforcement Commission for issues concerning his political action committee. Here's the story I wrote:
http://www.zwire.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=20242481&BRD=2755&PAG=461&dept_id=592709&rfi=6
Also, any opinions about Speaker of the House Chris Donovan hiring former Speaker Jim Amann as his senior adviser? Amann starts Tuesday and will make $120,000.
And finally, what do you think about the deficit plan passed by the General Assembly this week? They made a dent in the deficit, but didn't get rid of all of it, and it is expected to grow. Did they do the right thing? Should they have added in the additional spending for health care for the janitors at the Capitol? Republicans certainly don't think so.
This week was packed with politics. Next up: Barack Obama's inauguration.
I'd love to hear your thoughts about Meriden Sen. Tom Gaffey. He's being investigated by the Elections Enforcement Commission for issues concerning his political action committee. Here's the story I wrote:
http://www.zwire.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=20242481&BRD=2755&PAG=461&dept_id=592709&rfi=6
Also, any opinions about Speaker of the House Chris Donovan hiring former Speaker Jim Amann as his senior adviser? Amann starts Tuesday and will make $120,000.
And finally, what do you think about the deficit plan passed by the General Assembly this week? They made a dent in the deficit, but didn't get rid of all of it, and it is expected to grow. Did they do the right thing? Should they have added in the additional spending for health care for the janitors at the Capitol? Republicans certainly don't think so.
This week was packed with politics. Next up: Barack Obama's inauguration.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Paul Daniels preps for D.C. trip
As I wait for some return phone calls and for the House to finish discussing the state's deficit behind closed doors, I've tried to check in with some people who are heading to Washington, D.C., for the Inauguration.
I managed to reach Paul Daniels, a Meriden resident, who said he has spent tons of hours trying to arrange the details of his trip. Paul and his wife are going, and they will be staying with friends in Baltimore.
Despite the hassle, Paul was excited about his train tickets to Baltimore. The tickets have Barack Obama's picture on them, and people will be allowed to keep the tickets after they are punched for the ride, he said.
He also was pleased to get an invite to a gathering being hosted by U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy. Murphy's party will be Monday, he said.
Daniels noted that while he has tickets to the Inauguration, he will not be able to watch the parade. Spots along the parade route fill up before ticket holders get there, he was told.
I will be checking in with Paul and other people going to DC for Obama's big day next week, and I will be blogging about their experiences. Keep reading!
I managed to reach Paul Daniels, a Meriden resident, who said he has spent tons of hours trying to arrange the details of his trip. Paul and his wife are going, and they will be staying with friends in Baltimore.
Despite the hassle, Paul was excited about his train tickets to Baltimore. The tickets have Barack Obama's picture on them, and people will be allowed to keep the tickets after they are punched for the ride, he said.
He also was pleased to get an invite to a gathering being hosted by U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy. Murphy's party will be Monday, he said.
Daniels noted that while he has tickets to the Inauguration, he will not be able to watch the parade. Spots along the parade route fill up before ticket holders get there, he was told.
I will be checking in with Paul and other people going to DC for Obama's big day next week, and I will be blogging about their experiences. Keep reading!
Voting error prompts reminder
Speaker of the House Chris Donovan had to remind his representatives this morning to be careful when voting.
"Make sure the button you press is yours," he said. "That's very important."
Donovan's words came after Rep. Craig Miner accidentally pressed Rep. Juan Candelaria's button when voting on a joint resolution confirming William J. Sullivan, of Waterbury, as a senior judge of the Supreme Court.
Candelaria was absent for the vote. Miner voted in favor, and his vote was properly recorded before the count was taken.
The resolution passed 106-24.
"Make sure the button you press is yours," he said. "That's very important."
Donovan's words came after Rep. Craig Miner accidentally pressed Rep. Juan Candelaria's button when voting on a joint resolution confirming William J. Sullivan, of Waterbury, as a senior judge of the Supreme Court.
Candelaria was absent for the vote. Miner voted in favor, and his vote was properly recorded before the count was taken.
The resolution passed 106-24.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Rell takes unpaid day of leave
Setting an example that she hopes commissioners and non-union managers will follow, Gov. M. Jodi Rell took an unpaid day of leave today.
It's another way to save money, and she wants agency commissioners and non-union managers to voluntarily take one unpaid day of leave by March 1.
Rell says the state is not immune to the pressure's of the current economy, but is determined to avoid layoffs if at all possible.
Do note that on Rell's unpaid day of leave, she was in the office.
It's another way to save money, and she wants agency commissioners and non-union managers to voluntarily take one unpaid day of leave by March 1.
Rell says the state is not immune to the pressure's of the current economy, but is determined to avoid layoffs if at all possible.
Do note that on Rell's unpaid day of leave, she was in the office.
Another Wallingford appointment
Apparently, Gov. M. Jodi Rell likes Wallingford.
Today, she appointed Carol P. Wallace to the board of Connecticut Development Authority.
The authority provides debt financing and investment capital to help businesses grow in Connecticut. The board oversees the authority.
While Wallace lives in Wallingford, she is president and chief executive officer of Cooper-Atkins Corp. in Middlefield.
Today, she appointed Carol P. Wallace to the board of Connecticut Development Authority.
The authority provides debt financing and investment capital to help businesses grow in Connecticut. The board oversees the authority.
While Wallace lives in Wallingford, she is president and chief executive officer of Cooper-Atkins Corp. in Middlefield.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Gaffey gets birthday wishes
On the day before turning 50, Sen. Tom Gaffey, D-Meriden, spent two hours listening to sobering budget projections from Robert Genuario, secretary of the Office of Policy and Management.
But at least Genuario gave him a birthday shout out during the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee meeting.
But at least Genuario gave him a birthday shout out during the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee meeting.
Remembering the past
If you read the front page of today's Record-Journal, you probably saw the article about Mary Mushinsky and Martin Looney. They are now the longest serving lawmakers in the General Assembly. They've been representing their respective towns for 29 years. Good for them!
To write the story that landed in today's paper, I talked to both Mushinsky and Looney about some of their memories over the years.
Did you know that for a few years some lawmakers actually set up their office in trailors parked outside the Capitol?
And did you know that Mushinsky and her staff has actually measured the amount of professional (paper) material the Wallingford lawmaker receives? Mushinsky told me she gets about 6 feet of paper each year.
And here's a random fact. Mushinsky says both her and Looney were single when they arrived at the Capitol, but since then, they've both gotten married and had children.
Throughout my interviewing, I also learned that Looney has a great memory and is particularly fond of sports. More than one person described Looney as a perfect gentleman.
Looney spoke a lot about his transition from the House to the Senate. He was elected to the Senate in 1992.
He even shared a funny moment that he had during his first year as a senator.
The House of Representatives has a bell that indicates that there will be a roll call vote. The Senate does not. They only have a voice announcement.
Anyway, the House bell rang one day, and Looney made his way to the House chamber, stopping only when he saw the representative that succeeded him. Representatives really are conditioned to react to the bell, he said as he laughed at the memory.
To write the story that landed in today's paper, I talked to both Mushinsky and Looney about some of their memories over the years.
Did you know that for a few years some lawmakers actually set up their office in trailors parked outside the Capitol?
And did you know that Mushinsky and her staff has actually measured the amount of professional (paper) material the Wallingford lawmaker receives? Mushinsky told me she gets about 6 feet of paper each year.
And here's a random fact. Mushinsky says both her and Looney were single when they arrived at the Capitol, but since then, they've both gotten married and had children.
Throughout my interviewing, I also learned that Looney has a great memory and is particularly fond of sports. More than one person described Looney as a perfect gentleman.
Looney spoke a lot about his transition from the House to the Senate. He was elected to the Senate in 1992.
He even shared a funny moment that he had during his first year as a senator.
The House of Representatives has a bell that indicates that there will be a roll call vote. The Senate does not. They only have a voice announcement.
Anyway, the House bell rang one day, and Looney made his way to the House chamber, stopping only when he saw the representative that succeeded him. Representatives really are conditioned to react to the bell, he said as he laughed at the memory.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
First day outtakes
The General Assembly started its 2009 session today. It was a big day for Meriden's Chris Donovan, and many Meriden residents went to Hartford to see him get sworn in as speaker of the House.
Gwen Samuel was one of those Meriden residents, and she used her time at the Capitol wisely. Knowing that Connecticut is facing budget deficits for this fiscal year and the two that follow, Samuel felt the need to share her concerns on a variety of issues, particularly education issues, with lawmakers.
"I'm roaming the rooms," she said.
As for Donovan, he was forced to wait in his office while his House colleagues were sworn in. His colleagues then had to nominate him for speaker. Former House Speaker James A. Amann, D-Milford, accidentally mispronounced Donovan's name during the process.
Donovan has not gotten around to decorating his new Capitol office yet, but he did say that he cleaned before holding a Democratic caucus breakfast there.
The Meriden Maloney High School Allegrettos were scheduled to sing the national anthem on opening day, but they couldn't come because of bad weather.
A rocker at heart, Donovan wore a red, white and blue guitar pin adhered to his suit jacket. Donovan plays guitar in the band, "The Bad Reps."
Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, may have approved of Donovan's nomination as speaker, but he warned that the two will be battling it out this weekend when the N.Y. Giants play the Philidelphia Eagles. Being from Pennsylvania, Donovan is an Eagles fan.
"This Sunday, we're going to have a show down," Cafero said.
Keep reading this blog regularly for more legislative session details that don't make it into the Record-Journal's print newspaper!
Gwen Samuel was one of those Meriden residents, and she used her time at the Capitol wisely. Knowing that Connecticut is facing budget deficits for this fiscal year and the two that follow, Samuel felt the need to share her concerns on a variety of issues, particularly education issues, with lawmakers.
"I'm roaming the rooms," she said.
As for Donovan, he was forced to wait in his office while his House colleagues were sworn in. His colleagues then had to nominate him for speaker. Former House Speaker James A. Amann, D-Milford, accidentally mispronounced Donovan's name during the process.
Donovan has not gotten around to decorating his new Capitol office yet, but he did say that he cleaned before holding a Democratic caucus breakfast there.
The Meriden Maloney High School Allegrettos were scheduled to sing the national anthem on opening day, but they couldn't come because of bad weather.
A rocker at heart, Donovan wore a red, white and blue guitar pin adhered to his suit jacket. Donovan plays guitar in the band, "The Bad Reps."
Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, may have approved of Donovan's nomination as speaker, but he warned that the two will be battling it out this weekend when the N.Y. Giants play the Philidelphia Eagles. Being from Pennsylvania, Donovan is an Eagles fan.
"This Sunday, we're going to have a show down," Cafero said.
Keep reading this blog regularly for more legislative session details that don't make it into the Record-Journal's print newspaper!
Monday, January 5, 2009
CCM announces wish list for 2009
I'm in Hartford today for a Connecticut Conference of Municipalities press conference. Municipal officials (local mayors and first selectmen) represented the organization, relaying CCM's priorities for 2009 to the media.
The group doesn't want their funding reduced, but they are pushing for regionalization and want to have the power to levy regional taxes. Speaking of taxes, they also want to raise the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, hoping to gain money for municipalities from the increase.
CCM says revenue is not keeping pace with costs, and something needs to be done. Those are two of the solutions the organization is proposing.
Let's take a look at the tax issue first. They want to have a regional tax on sales, hotels, etc., and they want to increase the sales tax. They say taxpayers can handle it as long as the money is used properly. Taxpayers don't want false promises from state government, they said.
As taxpayers, could you deal with a sales tax hike? Any travelers out there want to comment on a regional hotel tax? Are there are any tax increases you would favor?
Moving on to this whole regionalization idea. Regional cooperation could be good. These local leaders say it will cut down on costs if a good system is in place, but I do have to wonder if egos and tradition will get in the way. Afterall, politics is politics. Unfortunately, saying you will work together and actually working together are sometimes two different things.
Anyway, I'm certain this is not the last we will hear from our municipal leaders. The legislative session starts Wednesday, and the state budget is high priority. Local leaders will want to make their thoughts known as state lawmakers grapple with projected state budget deficits.
The group doesn't want their funding reduced, but they are pushing for regionalization and want to have the power to levy regional taxes. Speaking of taxes, they also want to raise the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, hoping to gain money for municipalities from the increase.
CCM says revenue is not keeping pace with costs, and something needs to be done. Those are two of the solutions the organization is proposing.
Let's take a look at the tax issue first. They want to have a regional tax on sales, hotels, etc., and they want to increase the sales tax. They say taxpayers can handle it as long as the money is used properly. Taxpayers don't want false promises from state government, they said.
As taxpayers, could you deal with a sales tax hike? Any travelers out there want to comment on a regional hotel tax? Are there are any tax increases you would favor?
Moving on to this whole regionalization idea. Regional cooperation could be good. These local leaders say it will cut down on costs if a good system is in place, but I do have to wonder if egos and tradition will get in the way. Afterall, politics is politics. Unfortunately, saying you will work together and actually working together are sometimes two different things.
Anyway, I'm certain this is not the last we will hear from our municipal leaders. The legislative session starts Wednesday, and the state budget is high priority. Local leaders will want to make their thoughts known as state lawmakers grapple with projected state budget deficits.
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