WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) will conclude his look at the state of the American child Thursday with a hearing of the Subcommittee on Children and Families. Thursday's hearing, is the fourth of the series, and will focus on what the subcommittee has learned over the past year about how children are faring in today's society and the effectiveness of public policy on their lives.

The series, "State of the American Child," launched by Dodd earlier this year, examines all aspects of children's lives: their health from birth to adulthood; their educational experience- in and out of the classroom; and their life at home with their families in their communities. The focus of the hearings is on the inter-connectedness of all these aspects and how they shape and define the lives of our children.

The final hearing boasts a distinguished panel, that will be testifying: Jennifer Garner, Artist Ambassador, Save the Children; David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., Director, The Satcher Health Leadership Institute and Center of Excellence on Health Disparities, Morehouse School of Medicine; Helen Blank, Director, Leadership and Public Policy, National Women's Law Center; Peter Edelman, Professor of Law, Georgetown Law Center and Faculty Co-Director, Georgetown Center on Poverty, Inequality, and Public Policy; Michael Casserly, Ph.D., Executive Director, Council on Great City Schools.

Senator Dodd began this series on the state of the American child earlier this year with a hearing that looked at the challenges facing our children and families and the tools they need to succeed in today's society. The second hearing, held in Connecticut, examined Connecticut social service, educational and health programs that are providing central services and assistance to children and families in the state. The third hearing, which included senior Obama Administration officials, focused on the impact of federal policies on our children.

Hartford, CT (AP) - U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd is saying his goodbyes and thanks to the Connecticut AFL_CIO, the state labor umbrella group.

Dodd appeared Monday at the AFL-CIO's political convention in Hartford.

Heurged delegates and guests to support fellow Democrat Dan Malloy in the governor's race and reminded voters "of what the other crowd got us into," referring to national Republicans.

Malloy and his Republican opponent, Tom Foley, were also scheduled to speak at the convention on Monday. The AFL-CIO expects to endorse candidates on Tuesday.

Dodd is not seeking re-election to the Senate. During his 36 years in the Congress, he said he voted with organized labor 96 percent of the time.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) will lead a Congressional delegation to the 49th annual Mexico-U.S. Interparliamentary Group (IPG), which will be held this weekend in Campeche, Mexico. Dodd will deliver remarks at the meeting's opening ceremony on Saturday.

"What binds our two nations is moe than a border, but a common history and common set of interests for our people - democracy, opportunity, prosperity, security," said Dodd. "We also share challenges - from threats posed by drug traffickers, gangs and criminals to climate change. But most important of all--we share a future. And to secure our collective future, we must work in partnership."

The Mexico-U.S. Interparliamentary Group is an annual meeting of legislators from Mexico and the United States to discuss bilateral issues of importance to each nation. At this weekend's session, members of the IPG will discuss issues related to immigration, trade, prosperity and competitiveness, and national security.

Dodd, a member of the IPG since 1984, has long been a supporter of strengthening U.S. ties with Mexico. Dodd is a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and chair of its subcommittee on Latin America.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Senator John Kerry (D-MA), released statements Thursday May 20 after Mexico's President Calderon awarded the Order of the Aztec Eagle to the late Senator Ted Kennedy.

The award was given to honor Ted Kennedy's lifelong fight for immigrants and his passionate interest in helping the people of Mexico build better lives on both sides of the border. Vicki Kennedy accpeted the award on behalf of her late husband.

The Order of the Aztec Eagle is the highest honor that Mexico awards to heads of state and other foreign dignitaries for distinguished service to Mexico or to humankind.

"No one understood better than my friend Teddy Kennedy that the United States and Mexico must embrace the things that unite us and work together to keep both of our nations safe, strong, and prosperous. Teddy knew how much Mexican-Americans contribute to our country. I was proud to work with him on this important issue, and prouder still to call him my friend," said Dodd.

"Th tale behind the eagle and the snake that appear on this medal is a story about how people find their homes, how they make new homes and how they shape the history of entire nations. That's what the Aztecs did when they stopped their journey and built a city on a lake. That's what the Kennedy family did in journeying from Ireland to America. And it's also what Ted Kennedy's life's work made possible for so [many] Mexican-Americans and countless others." said Kerry.

"It is an honor to have Vicki Kennedy here today accepting this award on behalf of Ted who was a tireless advocate for immigrants and champion of comprehensive immigration reform." Kerry said.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) released the following statement today as the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee conducted a hearing on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the role that teachers and education leaders play in the education of students.

"If we want excellent schools - and more than want them, I would argue we desperately need them to compete in the 21st century economy - we have to provide educators not only with the funding, but with the training and development opportunities they need to improve and excel," said Dodd, "Teachers need the tools to succeed, the trust to deploy them as they see fit, and the time to show that they can get results."

Dodd states that a certain amount of accountability is what is needed to fulfill the goal of having a great teacher in every classroom.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), and the entire Connecticut Congressional delegation sent a letter to President Barack Obama this week urging him to provide federal assistance to Connecticut's cities, towns, businesses, and residents affected by recent severe weather.

This letter is in support of Governor Rell's request for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to declare a major disaster for CT as a result of the severe rainfall and hurricane force winds that hit Fairfield County and Southeastern CT during an 18-day period last month. The president declaring a major disaster will activate a number of federal programs that will assist in the recovery efforts of individuals and local governments.

The letter details the amount of rain and the time period it was received in, as well as the damage that was incurred.

FEMA has verified that the State and municipal costs associated with this storm would exceed $10 million and the severity of damage and the impact on families, businesses and towns is sizable.

"The fight for health care reform has lasted nearly a century and frustrated Presidents and legislators of both parties. But [Sunday] we have won this fight on behalf of the American people. This vote makes it clear that scare tactics and the special interests are not match for the call of history and the need for change. No matter who they are or where they live or what they do for a living or have in the bank, every American family deserves good health care. And, with this historic legislation, they will be able to get it."

Everyone saw the poll numbers released yesterday showing Attorney General Richard Blumenthal absolutely trouncing potential Republican nominees Rob Simmons, Linda McMahon and Peter Schiff in the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd.
Why not just give up now, some pundits have said, or in the case of Simmons, who doesn't have the personal wealth of McMahon, consider switching to the race for governor?
One development that could be keeping both in the race and optimistic is what's happening in our even-more-liberal, even-more-Democratic-Party-dominated neighbor, Massachusetts.
The special election to fill Ted Kennedy's Senate seat has a lot of parallels.
Kennedy and Dodd served in the Senate FOREVER. They were ideological peas in a pod, and sailing buddies. And Dodd very publicly took up the health care reform mantle after Kennedy's death.
Both seats are up for grabs after decades of dominance by a single family.
And the Democratic nominee in Massachusetts and presumed nominee in Connecticut both happen to be the respective state's sitting attorney general.
And the Republican nominee in both states (regardless of whether Schiff, Simmons or McMahon wins in Connecticut) will be from the moderate-to-liberal wing of the GOP.
Connecticut Republicans have to be encouraged by the latest from Massachusetts, where Coakley's once crushing lead in the polls is at break-even now to slightly behind state Sen. Scott Brown.
Brown has focused almost completely on Democrats' push for a health care bill that would carry huge tax increases. Instead, he argues, the Obama administration and Congress should be focusing on cutting taxes, stimulating the economy and creating jobs.
If Brown wins or comes anywhere close to winning a Massachusetts seat that no Republican has any business winning, "Sen. Blumenthal" come November is no safe bet.

U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd has his first challenger in the 2010 Democratic primary. It's unlikely to be the last fellow Democrat to declare against the embattled incumbent.

U.S. Sen Chris Dodd, chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, will convene a hearing today titled “Regulating and Resolving Institutions Considered ‘Too Big to Fail’.” This hearing is part of a series of hearings, briefings and meetings that Dodd is convening as the Banking Committee works to modernize our financial regulatory system.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Dodd will hear testimony about lessons learned from the current crisis and recommendations for the regulation, supervision, and resolution of institutions considered essential to the financial system and often deemed “too big to fail.”

Just how much trouble is Sen. Chris Dodd in as he runs for re-election next year?

You’ve seen the surprising opinion polls showing record unfavorability, and other poll finding that any Republican - even those virtually unknown across the state - would beat him easily if the election were held today.

Well, at the well-attended annual meeting of the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce last Thursday, outgoing President Joe Greco’s comments about various dignitaries, including Gov. M. Jodi Rell, being unable to make it was followed by a crack about Dodd being available but the group asking him to stay away.

It was met by laughter and a very loud round of applause from the several hundred, typically reserved, local businesspeople, in the room.

U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, center, talks with former Torrington

mayoral candidate Tim Driscoll, left, and Jay Houser during a gathering

at Dr. Matthew Blondin’s office in Torrington Saturday.

Purchase a glossy print of this photo and more at www.registercitizen.com.

By ALEX TAYLOR

WEST CORNWALL — U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd hasn’t visited West Cornwall since 2004, but he and U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5, will be stopping by the picturesque village Saturday for a public meeting organized by the Democratic Coalition of Northwest Connecticut.

The meeting is scheduled at the West Cornwall Consolidated school, 5 Cream Hill Road, between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., according to coalition chairman Harriette Dorsen.Murphy, who was traveling from Washington to Connecticut on Friday, said the economy would be the topic of discussion.

Murphy said that is all he is hearing from voters.“The economy. The economy. The economy,” Murphy said. “A lot of people out there have lost their job and are looking for help to find a new one. Others out there are anxious about how long they’re going to be employed.”

That, and populist anger at the TARP bank bailout.“People are furious that a lot of these banks have taken the money and handed it out as bonuses and salaries to their executives,” Murphy said of TARP, which he voted for.

“I’m just as angry as they are. People are rightly skeptical of the first round of money which hasn’t gone to business owners. I don’t know why Bush administration gave that money out with any conditions.”

In recent weeks, Murphy has touted several programs from the federal stimulus package, including a tax cut he said averaged to $800 per family as well as several transportation and energy projects.Murphy also touted an $8,000 refundable tax credit for first-time home buyers that was part of the stimulus package.

“Not enough people out there know about this,” he said. “I really believe that if you restart the first-time home buyer’s market, you will unlock what is a very-broken real estate market and get people buying homes and spending money again.”

The program ends Dec. 31.A spokesman for Dodd said the senator is looking forward to visiting West Cornwall. The five-term senator and Senate Banking Committee chairman has come under criticism for his closeness to the financial industry and questioned over his two mortgages with Countrywide Financial Corp.

Dorsen said she expects an exchange between the senator and voters.“I think this is going to be a good chance for the senator to talk to voters and address any questions or criticism,” she said.Murphy said it is too early to predict the 2010 election.

“I’m not a political analyst. I think it’s a little too early to be handicapping a race that won’t happen for a year and a half,” he said, citing Dodd’s accomplishments as an advocate for the state.

“He clearly has some work to do between now and then, but the more occasions he has to talk to people in informal settings like the one we have Saturday, the better off his political prospects will be,” Murphy said.

State Sen. Andrew Roraback, R-30, said that while the stimulus has helped Connecticut, he worries about future deficits.

“Certainly from the state’s perspective, the stimulus is helping us balance our budget,” he said. “We’re going to get $2 billion in the next two years, which is certainly welcome news and comes at a time when we need it the most.”
He added: “There has to be a limit to deficit spending. I don’t want the cure for today’s illness to burden our country’s future.”

U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, D-CT, a returned Peace Corps volunteer and a longtime advocate for national service, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, CT-3, will join President Barack Obama for the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act signing ceremony today.

The event will take place at 4 p.m. at The SEED School of Washington, D.C., an innovative public school that caters to underserved students who may face challenges in school and at home.

The Serve America Act includes large parts of Dodd and DeLauro’s “Service for All Ages ” initiative, which is a group of four bills that will expand and strengthen opportunities for Americans of all ages to serve their communities, according to a statement from Dodd's office.

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.

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."

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.”

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz will talk about her every-four-years consideration of a run for governor on Channel 3's "Face the State" program at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Maybe all those slick (taxpayer-funded, we assume?) commercials where Bysiewicz explained the new system of voting finally have raised her profile large enough to get her to take the plunge this time.
Also on the show will be state Republican Chairman Chris Healy talking about how to rebuild the party in Connecticut and possible challengers to U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd next year.

Failed 5th District Green Party congressional candidate Harold Burbank of Canton is considering running for Chris Dodd's U.S. Senate seat in 2010, The Register Citizen reported this morning.
Burbank, a human rights attorney, criticized the Senate Banking Committee chairman for his role in the huge federal bailout of Wall Street this fall.
Running with virtually no budget and shut out of major party candidate debates in the 5th District race won by incumbent Congressman Chris Murphy, Burbank received 2,871 votes, or 1 percent of the vote on Nov. 4, to Murphy's 174,316 votes.

The every-other-year speculation that Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal will run for governor started basically the day after this year's election.
Maybe - but doubtful - we'll find out if 2010 is finally the year when Blumenthal appears on "Face the State" on WFSB Channel 3 at 11 a.m. Sunday. Topics of discussion, according to the station, will be "Obama's Big Win, Blumenthal in 2010 and the state Republican party."
Conventional wisdom is that, once again, major potential Democratic candidates are somewhat paralyzed in actively seeking the governorship until Blumenthal makes up his mind.
Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, who thought about running last time, and Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, who lost in the primary last time to New Haven Mayor John Destefano, both might fall into that category.
Outgoing Speaker of the House Jim Amann is not in that category - he is openly running for the seat already.
God help the Republicans if Gov. M. Jodi Rell decides not to seek a second full term.
The other factor for major candidates could be U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd's seat, which is up in 2010 also.
Who knows how the mortgage controversy that is increasingly sliming his reputation will impact his decision on whether to run again. Or maybe President-elect Barack Obama, who had once considered Dodd for vice president, will tap him for some cabinet appointment or ambassadorship.
If Dodd quits, Blumenthal might run for the Senate. And would Ned Lamont take another shot, so he could be the junior Senate teammate of his buddy Joe Lieberman?
And you also need to factor in a bunch of bored congressmen possibly being interested in either Dodd's seat or running for governor, including Chris Murphy, Joe Courtney or John Larson.