From Paddi's Desk
by Paddi LeShane
As the New Year begins, we look forward to the new administration and to the energy of the recently elected legislators. Appointments are about wrapped up for the House and Senate, and in the next week or so we should see the remaining commissioners completed, as well as Governor's and Lieutenant Governor's teams.
What I'd like to say as 2018 ends and 2019 begins is that, despite what the popular feeling may be, Governor Malloy accomplished much of what he set out to do eight years ago - stabilize the business climate, work on a green economy, update the criminal justice system, improve the transportation infrastructure and right-size state government.
Now some might not like the way he did it, or the fact that he was direct, straightforward and tenacious. But frankly, CT would be in worse shape if he wasn't occupying the second floor. Along with his sidekick, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, they played their roles beautifully as a great team. Mr. Inside and Ms. Outside, balancing the mission, filling voids for the team and moving CT a bit more into the Millennial era, while keeping us Baby Boomers on board.
A big round of gratitude and much thanks to Governor Malloy and Lt. Gov. Wyman - happy trails to you both. In the words of my partner Patrick Sullivan,
"All the best."
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How Agencies Will Handle Introducing a Budget
by Mike Johnson
Agencies will have their hands full racing to submit budgets for approval, but how will agencies handle getting their budgets approved with a $2B deficit?
First, agencies will need to be realistic with their fixed costs and how to sustainably manage the growth of other expenses that have increased over the years. Federal money for certain programs with agencies (DSS, DPH and OEC to name a few) have helped cushion the expenses for addressing pieces like Medicaid and opioid abuse prevention. That being said, there are no guarantees that this funding stream will remain in place with looming decisions on the Federal level, so those adjustments will need to be taken into account.
Another big topic many are wondering about related to the budget is how the state bond covenant will affect state borrowing to help cover the costs for agency projects. The legislature and Governor both approved a "bond covenant" that pledged to investors on Wall St. that the state will not borrow to cover operating expenses and also will honor the bond cap in place.
Agencies will need to ensure investments are made for their most pending needs, but there will definitely be a large amount of discussion related to how much bonding overall will actually be available next year.
We will continue to report more on this topic as the session gets under way.
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Did You Know?
This Day in CT History
January 2nd, 1958
The Connecticut Turnpike Opens (I-95)
January 2nd remains a date in Connecticut history that is bound to provoke strong feelings among the state's road warriors: On this day in 1958, the Connecticut Turnpike - better known today as Interstate 95 - first opened to the public.
Connecticut's shoreline post roads had been clogged with heavy traffic since the early days of the automobile era, with state officials discussing the construction of new parkways as early as the late 1920s. The Merritt Parkway, one of the first limited-access highways in the United States that first opened in 1938, but with more and more Americans owning automobiles in the 1940s and 1950s, larger measures would have to be taken to ease traffic congestion along the Connecticut coast.
Even on its first day, the highway caused plenty of headaches for Connecticut motorists: Several exit ramps were closed, unlabeled, and/or partially finished; signs were missing in several places; most of the highway's toll plazas were inoperable. While these issues were remedied, I-95 has remained a crowded thoroughfare and unrelenting source of stress for Connecticut commuters ever since it opened in 1958.
Today, it stands as one of the most congested and highly-traveled stretches of roadway in the United States.
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Municipal
Roundup
by Ryan Bingham
Last week, the CT Mirror wrote about its statewide 'community conversations' that they organized revolving around urban revitalization.
The participants in the conversations were made up of members UCONN's Hartford branch, Bridgeport parents, Asset Limited Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) members in Waterbury and New Haven adults who are living with mental illnesses or have family members with mental illness.
This provided for a unique dialogue about what the value of having urban centers is to the state as a whole and what might positively impact them to flourish. A common theme was resonating around the 'rising tide lifts all boats' mantra. This was evidenced by Kerry Whitman of Stratford when she said, "In the end, everybody is better off because hopefully people will get off some of the state aid because now there's more jobs, towns will have more people in them and provide better education." She went on to say, "It will increase revenue for all towns and all areas surrounding cities and can only be a good thing."
Although revitalization efforts are often focused on cities, participants at all the meetings agreed that improving and expanding transportation and businesses in cities would benefit all of the surrounding towns. Therefore, many individuals thought taxpayers across Connecticut should be on the hook when it comes to financing revitalization efforts.
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2018 Transition Team HQ
by Chelsea Neelon
A new year begins, and a new governor is soon to be sworn in and take the reigns over state the of Connecticut. The Lamont Transition team had a busy holiday season, as they began to shape their administration by choosing staff for the Lt. Governor-elect as well as new agency commissioners.
We will be seeing new commissioners in the Department of Emergency Services and Public Safety (DESPP), the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and the Department of Corrections (DOC). Former Hartford Police Chief James Rovella will take over DESPP, PURA Chairwoman Katie Dykes will lead DEEP, and Rollin Cook, a seasoned criminal justice reformer from Utah, will be heading DOC. With session just less than a week away, I'm sure we'll be seeing more new appointments coming soon.
Lt. Governor-elect Susan Bysiewicz recently announced her staff appointments of key personnel. According to a Lamont-Bysiewicz Transition Team press release, "Adam Joseph will serve as Chief of Staff, Cherie Phoenix-Sharpe will serve as General Counsel, Samuel Carmody will serve as Senior Advisor for Legislative Affairs, Jimmy Tickey will serve as Senior Advisor for Economic and Community Development, and Juliemar Ortiz will serve as Press Secretary." Read more to learn about the Lt. Gov's new staffers here.
2019 brings a new administration, new commissioners and new legislature. Will it bring about new change in CT? Stay tuned.
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Upcoming Events
Senate Democrats
Pre-Session Fundraiser
Monday, January 7th
9AM-10:30AM
Red Rock Tavern, Hartford
Senator Cathy Osten Ten Town PAC
Monday, January 7th
12PM-2PM
Red Rock Tavern, Hartford
State Representatives James Albis, Russ Morin, Roland Lemar Fundraiser
Monday January 7th
12PM-2PM
Salute Restaurant, Hartford
State Senator Matt Lesser Fundraiser
Monday January 7th
4PM-6PM
Red Rock Tavern, Hartford
Senate Republicans Pre-Session Fundraiser
Monday January 7th
4PM-6PM
Salute Restaurant, Hartford
House Democrats Pre-Session Fundraiser
Monday January 7th
5PM-7:30PM
Chango Rosa, Hartford
House Republicans' Annual Pre-Session Fundraiser
Tuesday, January 8th
4:30PM-6:00PM
Officers' Club
Sullivan & LeShane Annual Opening Day Party
Wednesday, January 9th
4PM-6PM
Front Street Bistro
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