CLICK HERE for an item from ctlocalpolitics about the possible Democratic candidates for governor in 2010.
Like usual, it hinges on whether Attorney General Richard Blumenthal will run, stay on as AG, hope for a U.S. Senate seat opening if Dodd's and/or Lieberman's fortunes continue to decline, or ride off into the sunset.
Other possible candidates include familiar also-rans or also-mentioneds, i.e., John Destefano, Dan Malloy, Susan Bysiewicz, Jim Amann and Donald Williams.

State Senator Andrew Roraback (R-Goshen) has been appointed Ranking Member on the General Assembly’s Finance Committee for the 2009 and 2010 legislative sessions. The appointment was announced Thursday by Senate Minority Leader John McKinney (R-Fairfield), who also assigned Roraback to serve as the ranking senator on the Regulations Review Committee and as a member of the Environment and Judiciary committees.

“I am honored to be entrusted with the responsibility to serve as ranking senator on the Finance Committee and to take on additional responsibilities on other important committees,” said Senator Roraback. “The Finance committee will be ground zero for addressing the state’s growing budget deficit and our challenge is great. Never have the needs of the people of Connecticut been greater and never has state government’s ability to meet those needs been more diminished. Nevertheless, through shared sacrifice and responsible governing, we will emerge from this recession.”

“Appointing a new ranking member to the Finance Committee was one of the most important decisions I had to make with respect to committee assignments,” said Senator McKinney. “Andrew’s experience and even handed approach to dealing with difficult issues will be invaluable as we work to balance our budget deficits in the weeks and months ahead.”

In addition to his appointment to the Finance Committee, Senator Roraback, who has been repeatedly recognized for his leadership on environmental issues, has also been assigned to the Environment Committee. During his 14 years of legislative service, Roraback has consistently supported legislation focused on clean air and water, farmland and open space preservation, control of invasive plants, forestry management, funding for greenways and the protection of historic landscapes – issues he will continue to prioritize in his new position.

Senator Roraback will continue to serve on the Judiciary Committee and as a ranking member of the Regulations Review Committee.

We have a feeling that not much of 2009 will pass before Torrington's mayoral race gets started.

Mayor Ryan Bingham is still officially undecided on plans to run for re-election.

CLICK HERE for The Register Citizen's story about his plans and Democrats' efforts to field a challenger, and CLICK HERE for the Republican-American's story this morning on criticism that Bingham has taken over the departure of the Torrington Twisters NECBL franchise.

The person elected mayor this year will serve for four years instead of two, thanks to a charter change adopted by voters last month. Democratic leaders in Torrington say that will help them field a stronger candidate this time.

See below a comment left on The Register Citizen Web site today and CLICK HERE to visit the group's Web site. (Although don't be too weirded out by the robot voice ... you'll have to visit to see what we're talking about.)
"In Connecticut we have decided not to step aside any more. We are intent on replacing both our celebrity senators with outstanding choices. First to boot, is Chris Dodd. Down here in Woodbury our grassroots effort is gaining steam. We are an official Political Action Committee registered with the Federal Election Commission. That standing allows us to oppose or support one or more federal candidates."
"We invite all to visit our website at www.dumpchrisdodd.com to learn more."

Governor M. Jodi Rell has announced she has nominated state Representative Kevin M. DelGobbo of Naugatuck to be a Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control.
DelGobbo (R-70), 44, has served in the state House of Representatives since 1997 and is the ranking Republican on the Appropriations Committee. He also serves on the Energy & Technology and Public Safety committees.
"Kevin brings an enthusiasm and – importantly – a tremendous understanding of Connecticut’s energy needs to the Department of Public Utility Control," Governor Rell said. "I have had the pleasure of working with him for many years on these kinds of issues and I know he really does ‘get it.’ He ‘gets it’ when it comes to the ability of our working families to pay the expenses of heating and lighting a home. And he ‘gets’ the intricate connections that underlie the issues – the economic and social reasons why we must ensure now that our state has an adequate power supply for the 21st century."
DelGobbo, who was named Lawmaker of the Year in 2008 by the Connecticut Association of Nonprofits, the Connecticut Association for Home Care & Hospice and the Connecticut Water Works Association, has been heavily involved in legislation dealing with energy and telecommunications issues.
Governor Rell included DelGobbo among the advisors who helped her draw up her Connecticut Energy Vision for a Cleaner, Greener State, a comprehensive strategy first announced in 2006. The Energy Vision outlines specific steps and goals for energy planning, including adding renewable electric generating capacity and increasing production and use of biofuels in transportation motor fuels.
DelGobbo also helped write the Energy Independence Act of 2005, which was intended to reduce energy costs and encourage conservation as well as spur greater development of "distributed generation" – small power plants, often supplying a single industrial or commercial site such as a factory, that can add their power-making capacity to the grid when demand is at its highest.
The DPUC regulates the rates and services of Connecticut’s investor-owned electric, natural gas, water and telecommunication companies and is the franchising authority for the state’s cable television companies.
In wholly regulated utilities such as gas and water service, the DPUC must balance the public’s right to safe and reliable service at reasonable rates with the provider’s right to a reasonable profit on its investment.
When it comes to competitive services such as telecommunications, the DPUC’s job is to ensure fairness among the competitors so customers reap the price and quality benefits of competition and are protected from unfair business practices.
DelGobbo, who was re-elected to a seventh term in November, will not take the oath of office as a legislator in January. His nomination to the DPUC is to the position reserved for a utility customer advocate.
"As a lawmaker Kevin has spent more than a decade advocating on behalf of his constituents," Governor Rell said. "He understands very well the constraints they face, especially when it comes to the costs of basics like heat and lights. His focus, like mine, will be on increasing our generating capacity and increasing our transmission capacity, while balancing the costs with the abilities of people to pay."

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz today issued the following statement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision not to hear a legal challenge brought by Greenwich resident Cort Wrotnowski claiming that President-elect Barack Obama was ineligible to be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States because his citizenship status was in question.
“The Supreme Court of the United States has appropriately decided not to intervene in a case with very little, if any legal merit. Clearly, President-elect Barack Obama is a born citizen of the United States over the age of 35 and won a majority of the votes on Election Day November 4, 2008. Therefore, he meets the constitutional requirements to serve as President of the United States. Following yesterday’s vote, President-elect Obama won 365 Electoral votes – plenty more than enough to be sworn in as our country’s 44th President.
This legal challenge was based on erroneous information and was legitimately dismissed at the state level. I am relieved that the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court found no reason to question the view of our own jurists in Connecticut, who found that President-elect Obama was eligible to become president and as such had every right to be on our state’s ballots and certified as the winner of Connecticut’s 7 Electoral votes.”

DODD ANNOUNCES INAUGURATION TICKET LOTTERY PROCESS

HARTFORD, CT – Senator Chris Dodd announced today that he will hold a lottery for Connecticut constituents who have requested tickets to the swearing-in ceremony for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.

Sen. Dodd’s office has received requests for over 10,000 tickets from Connecticut constituents. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies has allocated 393 tickets to each Senate office.

Later this week, a random drawing will be held to distribute 200 tickets to Connecticut constituents for the swearing-in ceremony. The remaining tickets will be distributed to Connecticut elected officials, community leaders, family and key supporters of President-elect Obama.

Individuals can still request tickets before the lottery is held by faxing their request to 202-224-1083 or emailing the Senator’s office at inauguration@dodd.senate.gov .

To Be Eligible for Inauguration Tickets:

1. Each entrant must be a resident of the state of Connecticut.
2. One entry per person.
3. Each individual is eligible for a maximum of two tickets.
4. Those who have requested tickets to date will be entered into the drawing and do not need to re-submit their request.
5. All future requests must be made via email or fax.
6. No request will be accepted after 6:00 PM on Wednesday, December 17, 2008.
7. Tickets are non-transferable and must be picked up in person with a valid photo ID on Monday January 19, 2009.
8. Tickets will not be distributed to groups, organizations, corporations or other entities.

Senator Dodd would like to encourage constituents who do not receive tickets to visit Washington for the inauguration celebrations. Only a small portion of the National Mall requires a ticket, while the rest of the Mall will be set up with video screens and is open to the general public.

It was as a live performer that Havens first earned widespread notice. By decade's end, he was in great demand in colleges across the country ("I must have played every campus in America at least three times," he says, grateful for students' early support), as well as on the international folk and pop club circuit. Richie played the 1966 Newport Folk Festival; the 1967 Monterey Jazz Festival; the January 1968 Woody Guthrie Memorial Concert at Carnegie Hall; the December 1968 Miami Pop Festival; the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival; and, of course, the 1969 Woodstock festival in upstate New York. Havens' Woodstock appearance proved to be a major turning point in his career. As the festival's opening act, he held the multitudes spellbound for nearly three hours. Called back for yet another encore, he improvised a song based on the old spiritual "Motherless Child" that became "Freedom," which eventually reached an audience of millions.

Website:

http://www.richiehavens.com

http://www.myspace.com/richiehavens

Ticket Price: $35, $45

Governor M. Jodi Rell has announced that the state Department of Labor has begun notifying more than 18,000 unemployed people that they may be eligible to extend their federal jobless benefits seven more weeks.
"With the holiday season upon us, this is welcome news for those struggling to feed families, pay mortgages and keep their homes warm," Governor Rell noted. "These serious economic times make it essential that our unemployed residents have economic stability while searching for new employment."
The Governor said the DOL mailed letters Thursday and Friday to individuals who have exhausted their extended federal compensation that had been extended 13 weeks this past summer. The letters provide instructions on how to apply for a seven-week extension.
State Labor officials say it now takes an average of 16 weeks to find a new job, compared with 13 weeks last year. The state has issued nearly $650 million in regular unemployment insurance benefits this year and more than $105 million in federal extended benefits.
"While I have confidence that Connecticut will weather this economic storm, providing unemployment benefits is one of the most important things we can do to help our citizens get through this difficult time," the Governor said.
State Labor Commissioner Patricia H. Mayfield said with the state's unemployment rate at 6.5 percent, her agency is processing about 80,000 unemployment claims each week, a 50 percent jump over last year.
"Fortunately, Governor Rell has authorized our agency to implement changes that are improving our ability to process claims and help our citizens," Commissioner Mayfield said.
Under Governor Rell's direction the DOL is expediting claims by taking the following steps:
* Extending call center hours from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m.
* Opening an Emergency Resource Center with staff dedicated to answering questions on the federal extension
* Increasing staff by temporarily hiring 15 DOL retirees with experience in claims processing; using DOL volunteers on a temporary basis to process claims; and training 20 temporary workers
Commissioner Mayfield advises residents to wait for their letters of notification to arrive before calling the agency. She also said that claims will be processed faster if individuals file using the DOL's Web site at www.ct.gov/dol <http://www.ct.gov/dol> rather than mailing back the application being sent with the notification letter.
Residents with questions about the federal extension can also call a toll-free number: 1-877-522-6711, which is staffed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, held a conference call today with local Connecticut auto dealers, union officials and representatives from the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association to discuss the ongoing efforts to stabilize the U.S auto industry and save the thousands of jobs in Connecticut that depend on it.

“After days of negotiations with the White House and Congressional Republicans, last night a handful of Senators prevented us from passing bipartisan legislation that would have helped stabilize our domestic automobile industry,” said Dodd. “This is not a Detroit issue or a Washington issue; it is an American issue that will have an impact in Connecticut and across the country.

“This afternoon, I talked with local auto dealers from our states, union officials and others, and I share their concern that doing nothing for the auto industry will have detrimental effects here in Connecticut. That is why I am strongly urging the White House to use their authority to stabilize the industry and therefore our economy.”

“We were very thankful for Senator Dodd’s efforts on behalf of the 14,000 auto employees and 300 auto dealers in Connecticut,” said Jim Fleming, President of the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association. “The only reason these small business people were at the table is because Senator Dodd asked us what we thought and then worked on our behalf. I don’t think the White House would be supporting using the TARP money at this point if it had not been for the effort of Senator Dodd to push this bill in Congress.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, the Democratic Steering Committee nominated and the full Democratic Caucus approved the appointment of Congressman Chris Murphy (CT-5) to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The Energy and Commerce Committee is often referred to as one of the three most powerful committees in Congress, along with the Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees. It has the broadest jurisdiction of any committee in the U.S. House, overseeing policy on health care, energy, the environment, global warming, consumer product safety, telecommunications, and other matters. In the coming Congress, any health care reform or energy reform legislation will go through the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Murphy will become the first Member of Congress from Connecticut to sit on the Committee in over a decade, and only the fourth Member from Connecticut to serve on the Committee in the past fifty years.
Murphy released the following statement on his selection:
“I am thrilled to have been appointed to a committee that will allow me to play a major role in expanding access to health care, combating global warming, and making our country truly energy independent. In particular, health care reform has always been an issue central to my public service, and this appointment gives me an opportunity to continue the work I started as Chair of the Public Health Committee in Hartford.
“For the first time in over a decade, Connecticut will have a seat on one of the most influential committees in Congress. Under the leadership of Chairman Henry Waxman and President-Elect Obama, the Energy and Commerce Committee will be at the center of the most important policy debates of the next two years. I look forward to being Connecticut’s voice at the table as we construct landmark health care and energy reform legislation.
“I am especially grateful to my friends John Larson and Rosa DeLauro, who lobbied hard on my behalf for this assignment. We might be a small state, but we have a powerhouse delegation that is now represented on every major committee in Congress. That’s a great thing for Connecticut.”

CLICK HERE for an item about mid-sized cities in Connecticut forming a coalition to lobby for fewer state mandates.

Read the story about Rell's budget cut prpoals, written by ctlocalpolitics.com here http://www.ctlocalpolitics.net/

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz today issued the following statement in praise of President-elect Barack Obama’s nomination of retired General Eric Shinseki to become the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
“General Shinseki’s nomination is great news for injured or ill military Veterans all over the United States of America. As someone who led with courage on the battlefield and suffered serious bodily injury himself, General Shinseki knows the pain and trauma of war and why top-quality care at the VA is needed. General Shinseki showed that same courage and integrity when he was army chief of staff and correctly forecasted the proper troop levels that would be needed to successfully accomplish the mission in Iraq. Though the Bush Administration ignored this sound advice at the cost of many lives, President-elect Obama has clearly shown he will take General Shinseki seriously.
General Shinseki’s leadership at the VA will also be a breath of fresh air from the current leadership, under Secretary James Peake, who directed the VA to ban non-partisan voter registration drives at VA facilities nationwide. This policy threatened to disenfranchise thousands of wounded warriors who sacrificed so much to preserve our fundamental right to vote and was only overturned following pressure from a bi-partisan group of Secretaries of State and Congress.
As a Senator, President-elect Obama co-sponsored S. 3308, the “Veterans Voting Support Act” with Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA) to federally designate the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a voter registration agency under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. This bill would require the VA to offer voter registration to anyone receiving services at a VA hospital, nursing home, or shelter for homeless veterans. I wholeheartedly support the passage of this legislation to permanently enact voting rights for our injured or ill military veterans. I view the nomination of General Shinseki as a clear sign that President-elect Obama shares this view and will not tolerate any interference with the voting rights of our wounded warriors.
It is my sincere hope that General Shinseki will be swiftly confirmed by the U.S. Senate and bring the VA a much needed change in leadership, I look forward to working with him and his administration.”

Governor M. Jodi Rell announced that beginning today, several credit unions across Connecticut will begin accepting applications for new low-interest student loans.
The Governor said as much as $17.5 million in loans has been committed under a new program she established last month with the Credit Union League of Connecticut. The loans are expected to be offered at rates of between 5.75 percent and 6 percent, significantly below the 6.99 percentage rate currently offered by the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA).
"The national economic recession is hitting home on all levels and families across Connecticut are faced with the difficult decisions on what expenses to cut. Under this program, college tuition does not have to be one of them," Governor Rell said.
Participating credit unions include:
360 Federal Credit Union (FCU) – Offices in Windsor Locks and Enfield
· Achieve Financial CU - Offices in New Britain, Meriden, Berlin, Southington
· American Eagle FCU - Offices in Bloomfield, Cromwell East Hartford, Enfield, Farmington, Glastonbury, Manchester, Plainville, Vernon
· Capital Region FCU – Office in Bloomfield
Charter Oak FCU - Offices in Groton, Killingly, Brooklyn and Putnam
Connecticut State Employees CU
Dutch Point CU - Offices in Wethersfield, Berlin, Waterford, Niantic, Windsor, Newington.
General Electric CU - Offices in Milford, Bridgeport, Fairfield, North Haven, Norwalk, Shelton, Stamford
Hartford Healthcare FCU
Ledge Light FCU - Offices in Groton and New London
Members CU - Office in Stamford
Mutual Security CU – Offices in Brookfield, Cheshire, Danbury, Norwalk, Stratford, Watertown, Wilton
Nutmeg State FCU Offices in Glastonbury, Rocky Hill, Manchester and New Britain
Sikorsky Financial CU in Stratford
Waterbury CT Teachers FCU
Under the new student loan program, institutions offering 6 percent loans will be able to defer interest payments for one year, and credit unions offering 5.75 percent loans would not defer interest payments. The Governor said the Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority (CHEFA) would provide 20 percent loan guarantees on the loans.
"These loans will be made to students who may not qualify for traditional loans or who may have already used up all their resources and are now having trouble paying for college costs," Governor Rell said.
On November 18, Governor Rell met with top officials from Connecticut’s credit unions to discuss the state’s economic situation and to propose a new partnership to provide students with access to higher education through a new student loan program.
For more information, contact the Credit Union League of Connecticut: http://www.culct.coop/ctcua/ or call 203-265-5657.

CLICK HERE for a New York Times item on Tribune, the parent company of the Hartford Courant, hiring advisers to offer advice about a possible filing for bankruptcy.

CLICK HERE for a similar report from Editor & Publisher.

CLICK HERE for more on Central Connecticut legislators' efforts to help potential new owners of The Bristol Press and The Herald of New Britain keep those newspapers open.

CLICK HERE for ctlocalpolitics.com's report on the 5th District congressional race's campaign spending reports. Incumbent Christ Murphy spent $2.8 million to Republican opponent David Cappiello's $1.3 million.

By JACKIE MAJERUS

Special to The Register Citizen

HARTFORD — Legislators representing Bristol and New Britain will meet Friday with state economic development officials about what can be done to save the daily newspapers in those cities.
The Bristol Press and The Herald of New Britain — and 11 weekly community papers in central Connecticut — will be closed after Jan. 12 if a buyer for the papers isn’t found by then, the owner, Journal Register Co., has said.All together, there are about 100 jobs at stake.
“We’re trying to save these newspapers,” said state Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat.
Lawmakers from Bristol and New Britain have a meeting scheduled Friday with Commissioner Joan McDonald of the state Department of Economic and Community Development.
State Rep. Tim O’Brien, a New Britain Democrat who brought the delegation together to ask for the meeting, said he wants to talk about how the state can help.“The state has programs that are designed to create and preserve jobs,” said O’Brien, who said he wants to bring the importance of the newspapers to McDonald’s attention.
The goal, according to O’Brien, is to “keep these historic businesses and the jobs from leaving our communities.
”State Sen. Tom Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat, said he would be at the meeting Friday to lend a hand.“I don’t like to see anybody lose their jobs,” Colapietro said. “I’m hopeful we can do something.”
State Sen. Donald DeFronzo, a New Britain Democrat, said he wants to find out what, if anything, the DECD is already doing to preserve the newspapers.
“They may have something percolating already,” DeFronzo said.If not, DeFronzo said, he wants to find out what can be done.
Aiding a prospective newspaper buyer, said O’Brien, is the same as helping any other business.
Any state help would go to a new owner or operating organization, according to O’Brien, not to the Journal Register Co., which intends to sell or close the papers.
“The application for any assistance would be for the new prospective buyer,” O’Brien said.
DeFronzo said the state may be able to help “if we can find a prospective buyer or successor organization.
”If nothing can be done and the papers close, DeFronzo said, he wants to know what the state can offer the 100 people who stand to lose their jobs.
Both O’Brien and DeFronzo said they had been contacted by possible newspaper buyers or their representatives, but didn’t provide details.“I’m somewhat encouraged,” DeFronzo said.
Nicastro, who served as Bristol’s mayor for 10 years, said the local paper includes everything, even notices of Cub Scout meetings and fundraising car washes.
“You lose a newspaper, you lose everything,” Nicastro said. “You lose the city, and it’s wrong.”
Nicastro — who was instrumental in brokering a deal that saved Lake Compounce when the nation’s oldest amusement park nearly closed more than 12 years ago — said he’s pleased that the New Britain and Bristol delegations are working together to save the papers.Jan. 12 isn’t far away, Nicastro pointed out.
“Time is of the essence,” Nicastro said. “We’ve got to fight hard on this.”