First Selectman Robert Congdon told members of the Norwich Hospital Advisory Committee Wednesday night that in the past week he has received at least one formal letter and phone calls from three real estate brokers and a previous contender to develop the property.
Since the advisory committee and selectmen voted last week to terminate their development agreement with Utopia Studios Ltd., Congdon's office has been contacted by Northland Investment Corp. of Newton, Mass., JHM Financial Group of Stamford and three real estate brokers representing unidentified developers.
In addition, Lebanon developer Mark Fields has said he is interested in reviving his proposal to build his $500 million Thames River Landing project at the site. (Bard)
Sen. Charles Schumer, who in every way but title -- he is vice-chair of the Senate Democrat caucus -- now ranks in the top tier of leaders in the Senate, isn't having anything to do with Sen. Joe Lieberman. This is particularly so as the Connecticut Democrat looks to push his Congressional ethics reform legislation in the coming months.
Schumer, who agreed to retain the chairmanship of the Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee for another two-year stint, does not want any hardcore ethics legislation passed on his watch. That's what he has told Senate majority leader Harry Reid, according to Democrat leadership aides.
Last year, Lieberman co-sponsored legislation with Sen. Susan Collins that would have established an independent Office of Public Integrity. While the Senate ethics committee would have oversight, the office would have had the flexibility to investigate ethics complaints and vet filings and lobbyist activities in the Senate. A similar bill was introduced in the House.
Schumer was able to leverage his New York ties to the financial markets and big business to competitively raise money with the Republicans. According to a leadership source, he's not sure he'd be able to do that again under tightened lobbying guidelines.
"I sort of have a unique position because I have experience, but I’m sort of a fresh face. I know that’s kind of silly. I’ve been in the Senate 25 years."
Is there anything the Republicans can do to win (or even do respectably well) in these districts? They haven't won the 1st since 1956, and the 3rd has been in Democratic hands since 1982.At a private reception held at the White House with newly elected lawmakers shortly after the election, Bush asked Webb how his son, a Marine lance corporal serving in Iraq, was doing.
Webb responded that he really wanted to see his son brought back home, said a person who heard about the exchange from Webb.
“I didn’t ask you that, I asked how he’s doing,” Bush retorted, according to the source.
Webb confessed that he was so angered by this that he was tempted to slug the commander-in-chief, reported the source, but of course didn’t. It’s safe to say, however, that Bush and Webb won’t be taking any overseas trips together anytime soon.
Yet in Fairfield, the owner of a house worth $580,250 -— the median sales price in 2005 -— paid $6,037 in property taxes, while the owner of a comparably priced home in Glen Ridge paid nearly twice that, an analysis of 2005 property tax and real estate records by The New York Times shows.
The wide variation in property tax bills in communities around the region illustrates how difficult it may be for elected officials, promising to address growing concern about the property tax burden, to come up with quick-fix solutions when there are so many factors driving tax rates up or down.
School districts in New York must pay the cost of teacher pensions, a responsibility that grew substantially in the years after poor stock market returns in 2000 and 2001. In New Jersey and Connecticut, the state pays for teachers' pensions.
Arguing that the city suffers from long-term economic stagnation and lacks an articulated vision for the future, the commission has called for an overhaul of the city charter that would scrap the city manager-city council form of government. Under that system, in place for the last 85 years, the council determines policies, and a city manager appointed by the council carries them out.
The Charter Revision Commission is instead advocating a strong mayor-city council system. A full-time mayor directly elected to a four-year term without a term limit would be empowered to lead the city, with the ability to hire a chief of staff, appoint and dismiss the heads of city departments, sign contracts on behalf of the city, propose annual budgets and veto votes of the council. The council would act primarily as a check on the powers of the mayor, with the ability to approve some appointments, override mayoral vetoes by a two-thirds vote and work with the mayor and finance board to come up with an annual budget. (Stoll)
The average population of towns with selectmen/town meeting forms of government is 9,660, for council/manager towns it is 27,169 and for mayor/council towns the average is 52,973.
Justice Borden's argument against this constitutional amendment was two-fold. First, he argued that the recent scandal that precipitated the call for such an amendment had nothing to do with the judicial branch's power to make rules governing the courts.
Second, he maintained that such an amendment is unnecessary now since internal reforms are already under way that, if implemented, will provide for far greater transparency than is currently the case.
It was a good argument, articulately presented. But I think it falls short on both accounts.
...
The fact is, there is no guarantee without a constitutional amendment.
Why is this so important? In effect, Justice Borden is attempting to establish within the judicial branch, by rule and policy, something akin to our Freedom of Information Act. But alleged violations of these provisions would not be reviewable by, or appealable to, any independent authority, such as the Freedom of Information Commission. Nor would any rule change be subject to legislative approval, as it is in the federal system.
Thus, any newfound transparency would be exclusively at the sufferance of the very judges who, in the future, may decide to close records or proceedings from public scrutiny.
"Does the GOP in Connecticut have a problem? You bet it does," Cafero said. "I think part of that problem is, we have failed to define ourselves as Connecticut Republicans and frankly have allowed the national Republican party to define us."
[...]
The state party could soon be looking for a new leader. Chairman George Gallo said he is considering leaving the position in January. Cafero recently tapped Gallo as his caucus' new chief of staff.
[...]
Despite the losses, Gallo said he is optimistic about the Republican Party in Connecticut, pointing to the fact that there are more GOP officials running local cities and towns than Democrats. (AP)
House Democrats on Monday ruled out a special legislative session to take up energy legislation, choosing instead to schedule a public hearing before the end of the year.
[...]
Lawmakers believe the state needs at least 500 to 750 megawatts of additional power and are considering allowing the state's two major electricity distributors -- Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating -- to produce that power.
The Preston Board of Selectmen terminated a development agreement today with Utopia Studios of New York, which proposed the $1.6 billion project including movie studios, a climate-controlled theme park, hotels and an arts school on the former Norwich Hospital property.
Preston officials said Utopia failed to meet numerous deadlines, particularly for a payment of more than $56 million.
Those "centrists," the people who can be convinced to swing Democratic in one election and Republican in the next, who don't make up their minds until the night before an election or just run in the voting booth and pull all the top levers are probably not engaged in the political dialog to the point that they will want to "interact" with those who bring them their news. They might be stupid, apathetic or working three McJobs just to make ends meet but they're probably not going want to spend their leisure time shootin' the shit with VandeHei. People who are engaged political junkies tend to have strong opinions and they want to interact online with others who are like minded.
Lawyers for eight same-sex couples seeking the right to marry will file their brief in the state Supreme Court today, setting the stage for an epochal legal battle on whether Connecticut permits gay marriage.
[...]
The essence of the appeal is encompassed by a rhetorical question in the brief, a draft of which The Courant obtained Tuesday:
"Given the legislature's enactment of the civil union law after this case was filed, and its acknowledgement of both the common humanity of gay people and their rights to equal treatment in their family lives, is it constitutional for the legislature to deny marriage while it also creates, only for gay people, a separate legal regime, with a different name, and deems them eligible for all state-based rights available to married spouses?" (Tuohy)
| PILGRIMS | PURITANS |
| Arrived 1620 | Arrived 1630 |
| Governors Carver and Bradford | Governor Winthrop |
| Plymouth Colony | Massachusetts Bay Colony |
| Friendly with Indians for 40 years | Indian problems from the outset |
| Paid Indians for land | Seized Indian lands |
| Communal living first seven years | Individual profit from the outset |
| Democratic, consensus of the governed | Authoritarian |
| Separated from the Church of England | "Purified" the Church from within |
| Not a single prosecution of witchcraft | Prosecuted and executed for witchcraft |
| Representation and equal inheritance | Nothing to compare |
| Forerunner of US Constitution & Declaration of Independence | Nothing to compare |
| More tolerant than the Church of England | Intolerant |
More proof that New England Republicans are in danger of taking up permanent residence at the margins comes this morning when a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives switches from Republican to Democrat. North Stonington Republican Diana Urban, elected to a fourth term two weeks ago, often voted with Democrats in the legislature. Her departure from the ranks of the GOP reduces their number to 44 of 151.
"We have done a poor job articulating why it is a New England Republican is a desirable animal."
The state budget surplus for this fiscal year has more than doubled to an estimated $486.5 million from last month as an improving economy brings in more tax revenue, Gov. M. Jodi Rell said Tuesday.
The estimate by the governor's budget office jumped from $220.1 million last month and is more than half the $940.5 million surplus compiled in the year that ended June 30. (AP)
Officials at Connecticut Innovations Inc., a quasi-public evelopment agency, have ignored their own rules in approving various e penditures and contracts, including "personal service agreements" tha cost more than $75,000 and were awarded without competitive bidding the state auditors say.
The auditors also say the agency, which administers the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund - which uses money from assessments on utility bills to promote renewable energy sources - may not have collected all of the revenue to which it was entitled. (source: Journal Inquirer)
The fund gets monthly payments from two utility companies, the auditors said, but its documentation supporting the amounts paid by one "consisted of only an assessment calculation," while the other "provided only a check."Meanwhile CL &P wants to raise electricity rates 8.9%. UI should be announcing its rate increases this week. So must for deregulation and innovation. What was that about the liquid gas terminal in Long Island Sound again?
They added that while the agency requested more information from the utilities after the period covered by the audit, only one had responded.
CII officials said they agreed with the auditors' findings and recommendations concerning its contract and invoice approvals and personal service agreements, according to the review.
The officials also said they would request a meeting with each electric utility to review the procedures in place and reports available pertaining to the billing and collection of the Clean Energy Fund charges. (source: Journal Inquirer)
There's a lot to talk about, here. What do you think?
Some officials who looked into reforming the judicial branch this year called for the amendment in response to a controversy involving former Chief Justice William Sullivan. Sullivan admitted that he delayed the release of a Supreme Court decision in March and April to help fellow Justice Peter Zarella's chances of being confirmed as his successor.
"I don't see the link between the rule-making power and the incident that has spawned this whole situation that I've been living under for the past seven months," Borden said, referring to the Sullivan controversy.
...
Borden said Thursday that several steps are already underway to make the judiciary more open, including guaranteeing access to judges' attendance records and opening judges' meetings to the public.
...
Borden set up his own committee this year to look at ways to improve the openness of the judiciary. He endorsed 35 of the committee's 38 recommendations, including a pilot program for cameras in courtrooms and posting criminal docket information online.
The council voted 10-2 that he had not prejudiced the impartial administration of justice and brought disrepute to his judicial office. There was no smile, no evidence of relief.
The council voted 8-4 that Sullivan failed to observe high standards of conduct and preserve the integrity and independence of the judiciary. It voted 11-1 on what many had called the slam-dunk count: that he allowed his social or other relationships to influence his judicial conduct. The council unanimously rejected charges that Sullivan failed to promptly dispose of the business of the court and that he failed to discharge his administrative responsibilities.
Sen. Andrew McDonald, the co-chairman of the judiciary committee, said there is little historic framework out of the Judicial Review Council against which to measure the severity of Sullivan's sanction. Only three judges since 1989 have received suspensions - one for five days, one for 15 and one for 30.
"By the precedents of the JRC, this is not an extraordinary penalty," McDonald said. "This was a clear manipulation of a branch's governmental operations for a brazen political purpose, to undermine a constitutional [confirmation] process."
But McDonald acknowledged the intangible penalty Sullivan has paid.
"In many ways, this is the denouement of Justice Sullivan's career," he said. "He's paid a personal price, as well as a legal price now."
"I have done (automated calls) in the past because my opponent was doing it," said state Sen. David Cappiello, R-Danbury. "There were a lot of hotly contested races this year and people got called nonstop. Stopping these calls would level the playing field."The problem is that there is no easy way to stop the calls from happening. An outright ban would be appreciated, but there are legitimate issues about protected speech. The solution lies somewhere in between and somewhat further. Any direct mail or robo call should have a mechanism for opting out. And the simple way to accomplish that is to have the opt out notice as part of the voter registration file. State Senator Cappiello is right to bring up this issue, but why stop at the robocalls. Let people opt out of all unsolicited mail, political or not.
Cappiello is among several lawmakers who said they were drafting legislation to include the political robo-calls in the do-not-call list.
Indiana, Minnesota and New Hampshire include politicians in their do-not-call lists. However, most other states, as well as the federal do-not-call lists, make exemptions for politicians. (source: Danbury News Times)
Not only did it prohibit state workers from using their state e-mail address for personal use while on company time, it also prohibited accessing private e-mail accounts on the Internet.
State workers were allowed, however, to read e-mails from their children's teachers or exchange e-mail messages with co-workers to plan social events, such as a baby shower or retirement party. (source: Journal Inquirer)
On Thursday afternoon Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced that the e-mail policy for state employees would change to allow them to send and receive messages from their workstation to deployed relatives in the military ... "Separation due to military service is difficult on everyone, and we want to do all we can to support our troops and their families," Rell said in making the announcement. "This change will allow those who are bravely serving overseas to stay in touch with their loved ones."This change does not go far enough. In an age when multi-tasking dominates the information technology productivity gains, it's time that bureaucrats stop looking for ways to treat their employees like lab rats, and focus on the performance of the job and service to the public. It is counter-intuitive for government officials to bemoan the state of the social networks that bind communities and then create an employment environment that seeks to cut off interaction between families.
Under the policy change, employees can now read and send e-mails to immediate family members serving overseas during their lunch periods and other breaks after first notifying supervisors. (source: Journal Inquirer)
Trying to regulate speech is always a dicey proposition. As Nancy Dinardo pointed out later in the article, one person't lie is another person's spin. If law makers really wanted to address the negativity in campaining they would work on ways to get the money out of advertising, and into real substantive debate about ideas and issues.
Williams would create a citizens review panel to consider complaints of unfair advertising and determine if candidates were in compliance with the code of conduct.
In cases involving candidates participating in public financing, the panel could withhold funding from offenders or allow extra funding for those victimized.
The panel could pressure candidates not involved in public financing by offering a public, nonpartisan judgment on the accuracy or fairness of advertising, he said.
"Campaigns should be opportunities to inform, not mislead," Williams said. "Voters are interested in issues, not insults."
He declined to identify any campaign that he found offensive, but he said the recently concluded season was the most negative in state history.
(source: The Courant)
Nominee for Speaker:
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Majority Leader:
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
Majority Whip:
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC)
Caucus Chair:
Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL)
Vice-Caucus Chair:
Rep. John Larson (D-CT)
State Rep. Robert Farr, R-West Hartford, has a plan to fight crime: Arrest people who do not show up for their court dates.Does this law also mean that parking violations, speeding violations and unleashed dog citations which require court dates will also appear on this list.
"When individuals who are arrested for burglarizing homes or selling drugs do not show up in court, it's probably because they were too busy burglarizing other people's homes or selling drugs to their usual customers," Farr said in a press release.
(source: Republican-American)
Farr said the intent is to show public officials the scope of the problem and encourage them to put resources toward remedying it. (source: Republican-American)Part of creating an efficient government is eliminating busy work. While "failure to appear" warrants might be numerous, this law takes a step in the other direction by creating more bureaucratic work instead of focusing on reducing crime long before it gets to a court date.
Frustration over leadership reappointments led to the walkout of half the Common Council's Democrats before Tuesday night's meeting, Councilwoman Gwenn Briggs confirmed Wednesday.
Briggs was one of five to skip the meeting after she said Democrats deadlocked 5-5 on whether to reappoint Michael W. Coffey council president and Carvin J. Hilliard majority leader, she said. Both are Democrats.
"I nominated (Democratic Councilwoman) Phyllis Bolden for the position of majority leader," she said, calling the nomination "a compromise." After a recess in the caucus, Briggs said Bolden withdrew her name. Bolden later attended the council meeting and voted for Coffey and Hilliard.
Leadership on the council should be rotated to give more members experience, said Briggs and Galen Wells, chairwoman of the Democratic Town Committee. Wells said friction in the council is the result of Coffey and his allies. (source: The Hour)
Democratic Town Committee Chairwoman Galen Wells said some council members have complained about Coffey and Hilliard's leadership and failure to consult with other Democrats.
"It's suddenly fashionable to cloak anything you do that's uncooperative with your peers as 'bipartisanship,' " Wells said.
Some Democrats in recent months also have expressed concerns that Coffey is too cozy with Republican Mayor Richard Moccia, who defeated Democrat Alex Knopp last year by 176 votes.
But with the Republicans winning only five council seats, observers expected a Democrat majority to set the agenda and run the city. Instead, Democrats have been divided for several months. (source: Norwalk Advocate)
The law, which took effect last month, requires retailers to give shoppers one item of a "consumer commodity" for free if it is offered at a reduced price but rings up at full price at the cash register. The value of the free item cannot exceed $20.And let's not forget that SONY releases its long awaited PS3 on friday. Lines have formed in front of consumer electronics stores across Connecticut providing ample opportunity for politicians to find out if Second Life gamers are receptive to political messages.
A previous law used stricter criteria in determining when a retailer had to give an item away.
"This is a much tougher law," Duff said at a news conference held beside busy Connecticut Avenue." I think it sets a new precedent and protects consumers."
By state definition, consumer commodities include food, nonprescription drugs, cosmetics and any other retail goods consumed by individuals or used by individuals for personal care or housekeeping. (source: Norwalk Advocate)
Sen. Joe Lieberman, may have agreed to caucus with the Democrats in the next congressional term, but the Connecticut independent made it clear Wednesday he would not hold the party line on a call for phased troop withdrawals.
...
Lieberman's comments are a sign his defeat in the Connecticut Democratic primary has not weakened his hawkish stance on Iraq.
Here in Connecticut the people have made a choice, and so the question is, “Where do we go from here? Do we continue the effort as was the case in 1994?”
I say “No!” Let’s not prolong the uncertainty. Let’s call it a day. I concede the race.
I wish Joe Courtney and his family all the best in the future. He ran a good race, and he deserves our respect. Although we may have disagreed on some issues, we were never disagreeable in our personal relationship.
They checked the active list, but there was no me. They checked the inactive list, still no me. I went to another line for those whose names aren't found. I informed them I'd been at my current house since early in the year and had lived Hamden for more than 10 years. They looked in their books, but didn't find me either. They called the registrar's office and it was the same: There's no Frank Harris in Hamden.[emphasis mine]
...
What can be done? I asked. They told me I could go to the registrar's office.
...
[The registrar] checked his books and found my name on the inactive list. He wasn't sure why I hadn't been found or how I ended up on the inactive list, but he told me all I had to do was head back to the polling place and have them restore me to the active list. Gratefully, I shook his hand.
Back at Shepherd Glen, after a few more phone calls and papers to sign, I was restored to the active list. It was also discovered that a page was missing from the book that contained the inactive names. My street address was on that page.
The lady at the table apologized for my experience and commended me for going through all this in order to vote. Most, she said, might have given up.
In Mansfield, about 150 University of Connecticut students were not allowed to vote even though they said they had filled out voter registration cards, The Hartford Courant reported.[emphasis mine]
Between 50 and 75 students filled out provisional ballots that will be counted if the registration cards are located.
PROVISIONAL VOTING AND VOTING INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS.[emphasis mine] [further requirements follow]
a) Provisional Voting Requirements.--If an individual declares that
such individual is a registered voter in the jurisdiction in which the
individual desires to vote and that the individual is eligible to vote
in an election for Federal office, but the name of the individual does
not appear on the official list of eligible voters for the polling place
or an election official asserts that the individual is not eligible to
vote, such individual shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot as follows:
(1) Notification. An election official at the polling place shall notify the individual that the individual may cast a provisional ballot in that election.
