A reporter's last day

The mood in the Capitol press room this week is subdued and most are even a bit angry.

It was nearly a year ago that Capitol reporters watched Greg Hladky clear off his desk. Hladky covered state politics for the New Haven Register and was laid off in early March 2008.

Today, we watch as Mark Pazniokas follows in Hladky's footsteps. Both were laid off because of budget concerns.

The AP reports that the Hartford Courant, which is owned by Tribune Co., is struggling with an industrywide decline in advertising. As a result, the company announced Wednesday that it would eliminate 100 jobs, primarily through layoffs. Pazniokas fell victim to the ax.

But so did 30 other newsroom employees, bringing the state's largest newspaper staff to just 135 -- only slightly more than half the number of people the Courant had in the newsroom last year.

I worked out of my Meriden office yesterday, but was in Hartford Wednesday and am obviously here today. Public relations people, lawmakers...even the governor's budget director have filed through the press room to talk to Mark, offering him advice and sympathy. I believe Mark likened it to being alive at his own wake.

Sadly, layoffs are becoming less rare. With today's bad economy, there are often newspaper articles saying that this company or that company cut their staff. Newspapers like the Courant are not the only ones laying people off. Layoffs are not unique to the newspaper industry.

Let's hope things get better.

A while ago, I wrote a blog entry about the economy and about jobs and unemployment. I have a feeling that every now and then, this topic will pop up, and I want people to use my blog as a forum. I want it to be a place where they can exchange ideas and share stories. So, go ahead and share your thoughts, feelings and frustrations. Everyone needs a place to vent.

Deal or no deal?

The legislative process can sometimes be slow -- painfully slow.

The House kicked off their day at 10 a.m. today. Shortly after they convened, they took a break to caucus. They are still missing in action.

The Senate started at 2 p.m., and they also decided to caucus.

What is the issue that requires so much talking? They are working on a deficit mitigation package. The governor already put her proposal on the table last week. Maybe by midnight, they'll all have a plan they can agree on.

Anyway, since it is currently the calm before the storm here in Hartford, I'd like to pose the following questions about the state's majority party to my blog readers.

Are Democrats doing a good job? Are they taking the right approach when dealing with this fiscal year's deficit? How about their approach for the next biennial budget?

Write your critiques here. I want to read them!

Wallingford, mark your calendars

Sen. Len Fasano, R-Wallingford, and Rep. Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, will be in town Feb. 26 to talk about the current state budget. That's a Thursday night, and the fun begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Wallingford Public Library.

The event is open to the public, and there will be a presentation prior to open discussion.

It is important to note that the General Assembly is expected to take up the governor's most-recent $1.1 billion deficit mitigation package Feb. 25 -- the day before the Republicans are in Wallingford. Presumably, Fasano and Candelora can fill you in on all the details of a mitigation bill if one is passed.

Today, the governor says the latest Office of Policy and Management estimates for this fiscal year show that the state's deficit has increased to $944 million.

Let's talk about tolls and budgets

I hear many people speak out against collecting tolls on Connecticut highways, but I hear few people say they want tolls.

Does anyone want tolls? If there were tolls on highways, would you look for an alternative route? Would out-of-state people not come to Connecticut if they have to pay to drive down I-95? That's a prime tourist spot. Would places like Mystic suffer?

Moving on....

This whole budget descrepancy is getting old.

Democrats say Rell's numbers are not right and that her budget proposal is not balanced, but they have not formally offered any solutions. They are apparently working on it.

The Appropriations Committee has been told to shave $2.8 billion off of Rell's proposal without raising taxes. Democratic leaders call it a needed exercise that will show Connecticut lawmakers and residents alike just how bad things really are under the governor's plan. They admitted they may not actually use many of the ideas the exercise generates.

Maybe that's why the governor's deputy budget director calls it a waste of time?

But the finger pointing does not stop there. Rell and her budget wizards are criticizing Democrats, saying that the majority party has not offered any deficit mitigation plans for this fiscal year. The governor is the only one making the hard decisions.

So much for putting party politics behind us.

Municipal aid questioned

I wrote a story that appeared in Sunday's Record-Journal about prison towns and the governor's budget proposal. Cheshire's town manager says he notices a pattern. He thinks the state's prison towns are being treated differently. He says they are losing more money under Gov. Rell's propsal.

And when I look at the numbers, I see what he's talking about.

Cheshire, home to three prisons, is slated to lose $1.24 million under Rell's proposal, and it already doesn't get as much state aid as other towns. Enfield, which also houses three prisons, is in a similar position.

But a town like Southington gets more, but stands to lose less. Southington would only lose $154,973 with Rell's budget.

The state Office of Policy Management says the governor is flat funding state aid by giving cities and towns the amount of money they enjoyed in fiscal year 2006-2007 -- before a one-time surplus bumped up aid. Everyone knew that bump in state aid should not be expected in the future, said the office's spokesman.

And the problem with saying you will give cities and towns the same amount they had in a previous year? What happens when you don't keep that promise?

Cheshire's town manager said the governor's numbers will actually give his town less money.

Interesting statistics. Do you think cities and towns should question less given the state's fiscal problems, or should municipalities that sense injustice fight for whatever few dollars they can?

Also, everyone says the governor used old numbers when building her budget. This means that Rell's proposal leaves Connecticut still in the red. When more cuts are forced, will cities and towns suffer more than they already have? Should towns like Cheshire and Enfield be lucky to even have state aid that comes close to fiscal year 2006-2007 levels?

Tell me your thoughts, and if you missed my Sunday story, check it out here.

http://www.zwire.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=20262516&BRD=2755&PAG=461&dept_id=592709&rfi=6

McMahon update

WWE Executive Linda McMahon's nomination for the state Board of Education was approved 34-1 in the Senate today. The House must still vote on her nomination before she can become a new board member.

McMahon was nominated for the position by Gov. Rell.

WWE exec and education?

I still don't understand this appointment by the governor.

Rell nominated Linda McMahon, the chief executive director for the World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., for a seat on the State Board of Education. Linda, who lives in Greenwich, apparently has her teaching certificate, but there was some controversy over her resume. I guess her resume said she earned a teaching degree. Turns out, her degree was in French.

Anyway, there was much discussion about Linda's appointment during the Executive and Legisative Nominations Committee meeting yesterday. Some said they did not approve of WWE programming and talked to Linda about the show's content. They wondered how someone who creates and promotes those shows would be in a role that has influence over children and what they learn.

The shows are scripted, was part of Linda's reply.

Ultimately, the legislative committee approved Linda's nomination 11-2. Her nomination must now be approved by both chambers of the General Assembly.

I am left puzzled.

Why did Rell decide to appoint someone who has spent her life in the entertainment business, especially when the state is still struggling to deal with No Child Left Behind mandates and other accountability measures? Education is about helping children learn and grow. While money is always an issue, education should not be considered a business.

At the very least, No Child Left Behind and the standardized test scores that so many dislike share a good goal. Through such measures, there is an effort to overcome the achievement gap. There is an effort to employ more rigorous teaching standards that will hopefully allow a student to reach his or her full potential.

I am sure Linda McMahon wants children to succeed. I don't even doubt her sincerity and her willingness to take on the responsibility of being a state school board member. I do, however, wonder if there are more qualified people in the state that could have been nominated -- people who have spent years in the field of education and who know Connecticut's educational system inside and out.

Should Linda McMahon get on the Connecticut Board of Education? Why did Rell pick her? Was it because she has contributed money to Rell's political campaigns over the years?

If Linda does get the volunteer job, I guess we will have to wait and see. I hope Rell knows something that the rest of us do not. I hope that Linda will help the state's educational system and that we will be pleasantly suprised.

Meriden courthouse in jeopardy

So, I've covered a few of Rell's budget proposals now, and this one is definitely different than the rest.

If Rell has her way, big changes are in store for state government.

One thing Rell is proposing is the consolidation or elimination of 23 state agencies. Say goodbye to the Commission on Aging or the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission. The Office of the Child Advocate would be folded into the attorney general's office, and the Department of Higher Education would merge with the Department of Education.

Do you have any worries about the departments being eliminated or consolidated?

Merging the departments concerns some, but I think many more are bothered by the jobs that would be lost. About 400 jobs would be eliminated and 448 vacant position would also eliminated. During tough economic times, I think many are wondering if this is the way to go.

I could go on and on about Rell's proposals. There is no tax increase in the budget, but the fees for virtually all licenses and permits would be increased, etc.

But there is one proposal that stands out because it singles out only two Connecticut communities: Meriden and Bristol. Rell wants to eliminate the courthouses in the two towns, bringing matters normally discussed there to other nearby courthouses. Meriden matters would be divided between three courthouses. Madison, Meriden and Wallingford matters would be handled in Middletown, while Cheshire issues would be heard in Waterbury. New Haven would handle Hamden and North Haven cases.

The savings attached to the consolidation is $2.8 million annually.

Is closing the Meriden courthouse something that should be considered? How would it affect downtown business owners who rely on court employees and those serving on jury duty as customers?

I'm sure I'll have more to say about the budget tomorrow, but let's take it issue by issue on this blog. I am hoping for exchange on these topics!

Rell's budget address coming soon

Gov. M. Jodi Rell is expected to deliver her budget address in less than 24 hours, but she's already hinted at what people can expect. The budget is so important this year that she took a few minutes to address Connecticut yesterday in an unprecedented television appearance.

Did you watch it?

I was busy working on another story, but I do have a copy of her speech sitting on my desk.

She says she is not raising taxing and that she will cut spending, but does not share the details of her budget plan. Those will be released tomorrow.

Where should she make cuts? Will state lawmakers be on board? Can she balance a biennial budget that already has a deficit of nearly $6 billion attached to it without raising any taxes?

There are so many questions. Everyone keeps saying it is a hard budget year, and lawmakers say the deficits need to be tackled. When push comes to shove; will they be willing to compromise? Will they be willing to make cuts and minimize spending?

Time will tell.

Myrecordjournal.com will provide you with information on Rell's budget plan tomorrow. Be sure to check the Web site!