Farrell takes on "American Idol"

Jerry Farrell Jr. is fighting for those passionate about music.

Farrell, the commissioner of the Department of Consumer Protection, wrote to the Fox Entertainment Group today. He wants to ensure that Connecticut residents are able to enter the "American Idol Songwriting Contest."

The commissioner, who lives in Wallingford, said that at least one state resident has said that "American Idol" rules attempt to prohibit Connecticut residents from entering the contest.

In his letter, Farrell talks about how Connecticut regulates a "game of chance" versus "a game of skill." Connecticut law allows a entry charge in a game of skill, he said, adding that the "American Idol" contest comes with a fee. Farrell has deemed the Idol competition a game of skill.

"Connecticut has many musically-talented residents who might want to submit their songs to "American Idol," Farrell said. "I do not want a misunderstanding of our laws preventing them from competing alongside residents of other states."

Did you know Sam Caligiuri...

- is the son of immigrants. His father came to the United States from Italy and his mother came from Canada.

- talks to his mom every morning while driving to work.

- met his wife, Lori, at the state Capitol in the 1990s. Lori was an aide to Republican Mark Nielsen, a former state representative and state senator. Sam worked for former Gov. John Rowland.

- has a 5-year-old daughter, Grace, who spends some of her time writing speeches. Politician in the making?

- has always considered his faith very important to him.

- was seven when U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., started out as a congressman.

- has a framed map of Southington in his Capitol office. U.S. Rep. Christoher Murphy, D-Conn., gave it to him with a note. Caligiuri succeeded Murphy in the state Senate, and when Caligiuri leaves office, he intends to leave the map for his successor.

- is a history buff. He loves going to historical places. He and his wife went to colonial Williamsburg on their honeymoon.

- likes to hike and spend time with his family.

- ran the Hartford Marathon in 2005. He has also run half marathons and other road races. His goal is to complete a mini-triathlon.

UConn wins either way

The way I see it, UConn wins even if they lose.

UConn President Michael Hogan sent President Obama a letter today. In it, he expressed disappointment. Obama chose Memphis to win the men's NCAA basketball Final Four -- not UConn.

"I have to doubt your judgment in this matter," Hogan wrote. I bet that's not the last time Obama will have someone questioning him.

Anyway, Hogan challenged the president. If Obama is right and Memphis wins, UConn's Conn Men, an a cappella group, will go to the White House to sing Memphis' fight song and and its rendition of "Hail to the Chief. If UConn wins, the president will be UConn's May 2010 commencement speaker and will accept an honorary degree from the university.

Apparently, UConn hasn't heard from Obama yet.

As a graduate of UConn, I hope the Huskies win it all. But if they don't, the university wins either way if Obama accepts Hogan's challenge. The UConn name will take center stage regardless of whether the men's team wins a trophy.

Donovan greets Obama

Like many other state leaders, House Speaker Chris Donovan was in Washington, D.C., today for a National Conference of State Legislatures' meeting.

He heard from the Office of Management and Budget about the stimulus package. Donovan said he now knows who to go to if he has any questions. He also added that those looking for more information on stimulus money should check out www.recovery.gov.

The secretary of transportation chatted with Donovan about Amtrak and a New Haven to Springfield commuter line. The secretary urged Connecticut to do what it can in the area without Amtrak. The process takes a while, Donovan was told.

And then there was the president. President Obama gave a 10-minute speech to those in attendance. Donovan said he focused on the need for transparency in government and the importance of the stimulus package.

Obama greeted people and answered questions.

"I said hello and shook his hand," Donovan said. "He didn't call on me though."

E-mails to chairmen prompt arrest

The chairmen of the Judiciary Committee each received e-mails from a New Britain resident March 10 that made reference to the lawmakers' residences. The e-mails also insinuated retaliation for Rep. Mike Lawlor and Sen. Andrew McDonald's position on Senate Bill 1098, a bill that would have limited the powers of clergy in the Catholic Church.

Discussion on the bill has been tabled.

Capitol Police were notified of the e-mail and investigated the incident. As a result, Timothy Kane, 26, of New Britain, was arrested by warrant without incident and was charged with second-degree harassment. He posted a $500 bond and is due to appear in Hartford Superior Court March 27 for arraignment.

So much for the Catholic Church trying to make its point peacefully and without incident.

Caligiuri for U.S. Senate?

I know the story about Sam Caligiuri's possible bid for the U.S. Senate ran earlier this week, but I never got the opportunity to blog about it.

So, I'm blogging now.

Sam is a pretty new state lawmaker. He's in the first year of his second term. He, however, has a lot of political experience. He is a former Waterbury alderman and acting mayor, and he was an aide to former Gov. John Rowland when Rowland was a U.S. congressman. Afterward, he was a deputy legal counsel to the governor from 1995-1997.

Sam won the state Senate seat vacated by now U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy in November 2006.

Could it be that the 16th District Senate seat is a lucky seat? Do you think Sam will follow in Chris' footsteps?

Sam is pondering whether he will try for the Republican nomination, but he said it is likely that he will. If he wins the nomination, he'll face long-time incumbent U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd. Dodd not only has experience on his side, but he has his name. I almost equate the Dodd name to the Kennedy name.

Dodd also has Democrats on his side. In a state that tends to vote Democrat, that means something.

A recent Quinnipiac poll says that Sam is largely unknown, and it says voters favor Dodd in a Caligiuri-Dodd match up. Sam would be the underdog, but underdogs have won seemingly impossible matches before.

Chris Murphy is an example. He beat long-time incumbent Nancy Johnson in the 2006 U.S. House race.

Like I said, maybe there is something in the 16th state Senate District that allows energized politicans to beat the odds.

Career day coming to Wallingford

F.Y.I. Wallingford:

Area residents looking for work or who want to be trained for a new career can attend events associated with Wednesday’s job search and career day.

The state Department of Labor will station its Career Express Van, a mobile job search office, in the rear parking lot of the town’s public library, 200 N. Main St., from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Lori Pendleton, admissions director for Charter Oak Community College, will speak at Town Hall, 45 S. Main St.

Pendleton will present the college’s program for improving marketable skills for careers.

The job search and career day is sponsored by Rep. Mary M. Mushinsky, D-Wallingford, the Department of Labor and Charter Oak Community College. It is open to all area residents.

Healthcare pooling is back

Chris Donovan is persistent.

For years, he has tried to get a healthcare pooling bill passed. Last year, he came so close. The bill got vetoed by the governor. This year, the bill has resurfaced with only small changes.

The bill would open up the state employee healthcare plan to municipalities, small businesses and nonprofits.

Should this be the case, or should only municipalities join together and create their own insurance pool? Will cities and towns save by joining the plan? These are the conversations that are being had behind closed doors, and they are some of the same debates that surfaced last year.

Will Donovan's new gig as House speaker help him when he's trying to convince the governor to sign the pooling bill? He was majority last year, but the bill still didn't make it past Rell.

Catholics and Canadians visit

About 3,500 Catholics showed up at a rally at the Capitol today to protest a bill that would limit the financial and administrative powers of the clergy. Some even spoke at an informational hearing held by Republican lawmakers.

Catholics are everywhere. Some even came in busloads. They sang songs on the Capitol lawn and watched hearing testimonies from the hearing room or on televisions at the Capitol. They did everything could to make sure their voices were heard.

Discussion on Senate Bill 1098 has been tabled for the remainder of the legislative session, but that did not stop devote Catholics from expressing their discontent with the two lawmakers who proposed the bill. Should Catholics have quit while they were ahead, or is it important that lawmakers know they are upset and watching?

On a side note, House Speaker Chris Donovan, D-Meriden, gets to hang out with members of the Canadian Consulates General today. Google has told me that Canadian Consulates General are similar to Canadian embassies, but they are located in major cities -- not capital cities or foreign countries, and Donovan says members of the Canadian Consulates General visit Connecticut's Capitol every so often. I wonder what they talk about? With thousands of Catholics roaming the building in protest, there certainly will be a lot to to see.

Ridley seeks legislative approval

At a time Gov. Rell is trying to eliminate the Board of Governors for Higher Education and merge the Department of Higher Education with the Department of Education, I find it interesting that she would nominate people to the board.

I guess she has to keep the board operational as the legislature deliberates.

Among this year's nominees is Frank W. Ridley, of Meriden. He currently serves as the board's chairman and his term expires this year.

Before winning another term on the board, Ridley must go through the legislative process. His public hearing will be tomorrow at noon.

Cost of college may go up

Lately, there has been much conversation about budgets as they relate to college tuition. When there is more money for state colleges and universities, the impact on college tuition is minimal, but when money is being held back or cut from those institutions, it is the students and their families who most likely shoulder the burden.

Administrators at colleges and universities need to find a magic number. This year, with the economy like it is, they will probably have to increase tuition, but they need to do so in a way that will not cause prospective students to run the other way. That, I'm sure, will not be an easy task.

I recently read a newspaper article that said students at UConn favor an 8.67 percent tuition increase over three other options. The other options included in the student survey ranged from not raising tuition to an increase of 13.6 percent. I guess those students are willing to pay a little more to ensure that services stick around, but they don't want the tuition hike to be overwhelming.

Are you in college, or do you have a kid in college or about to enter college? If so, are you limiting the schools you will apply to because of the economy? Will you transfer schools if tuition increases? Does a tuition increase matter to your daily budget, or is it not an immediate concern because you plan to pay for school through a loan?

Today, a college diploma is important. Could the economy and the cost of higher education change the dynamics of society? Like with everything, only time will tell.

Petit to talk about death penalty

It's a busy day at the Legislative Office Building today, but I'm focusing on just one room. The Judiciary Committee began at 10 a.m. It's now about 3 p.m., and they are still going strong.

I think I should have pitched a tent.

Today, the Judiciary Committee is holding a public hearing. Most people are here to talk about the raise the age and death penalty bills. I'm more interested in the death penalty bills. One would abolish the death penalty; the other would mean stricter standards in capital cases.

Dr. William Petit Jr. and his sister, Johanna Petit-Chapman, are here, and I'm waiting for them to speak. It's my understanding that they have never spoken about how they feel about the death penalty, and it should be interesting to hear what they have to say.

If you remember, Petit's wife and daughters were murdered in a Cheshire home invasion in 2007. I was actually the reporter covering the story for the Record-Journal that day, and I remember the scene well. It was pouring rain, police were working with the SWAT team, neighbors watched from outside as three bodies were removed from the house... Dr. Petit, who was injured during the invasion, was the lone survivor.

It is a day I will probably never forget, and as a reporter, it is the type of story that I hope I never have to cover again.

Anyway, it looks like Connecticut is debating the death penalty again. It is a conversation that the Nutmeg State seems to have every so often, and I know it makes me think hard about my views on the issue.

I will keep those views to myself. As a reporter, I do not feel it appropriate to share my opinion on the matter. I am, however, curious to hear whether you support the death penalty. Should it be repealed? Should the death penalty be tweaked to include stricter standards? Let me know your opinions, and I'll keep you posted on what Dr. Petit and his sister have to say.

Should the wealthy pay more?

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would create a progressive income tax system. It would also raise the tax rate on trusts and estates.

Turn on CTN right now, and you can watch the public hearing. The Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee is discussing several bills, including House Bill No. 6557. Because of the weather, many committee members are absent and some of the people who signed up to testify are not there, but it still makes for interesting conversation.

If you remember, Democrats wanted a tiered income tax system in 2007, but the measure did not make it into the state budget. That system would have increased the income tax for the state's wealthiest residents. House Bill No. 6557 would do the same thing. Do you think this is fair? With the wealthiest residents seeing a decline in income, should the state charge them more, knowing that Connecticut may not see the amount of revenue it hopes for?

Stay tuned, and if you are taking a snow day, check out CTN.