House Republican Press Release

March 26, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Some “progress report” items.....

By State Representative John J. Ryan

Our last column, "Halfway Home" whimsically summarized some of the less compelling subjects of legislation this year; as we say all too frequently, you can't make this stuff up! So how was I to know that only days after that column, the story came out that some folks are, by the way, seriously considering proposals to make the legislative process a full-time one, and in the process, to triple legislative salaries, and other similar impositions that taxpayers would foot the bill for?

Except they were not kidding! (You might want to note that this was not a Republican initiative, and if you wish some pithy comments on this proposal, please go to Governor Rell's website at: (www.ct.gov/governor/)) Just think how much carnage to Connecticut a year-round General Assembly could do!

So with two full months plus of this year's session to go and committees winding up their work at JF deadlines and sending out their bills to the floor, here are some quick progress reports:

-" Super 7" : this topic that I mentioned 2 columns back generated lots of headlines, and, exactly as I predicted, never even got out of committee !

- Eminent domain: this column has noted in the past that the General Assembly should have addressed this topic last year, but I am pleased to report that on Friday I voted for SB 1054 to get out of the Planning & Development Committee; it is not, in my view, the very best solution possible, but it is a lengthy and comprehensive bill that represents a major attempt to take some action on this very important issue. Will this get taken up this year?

-"Zone pricing ban": see "Super 7" above; lots of noise and press conferences, and nothing got out of Committee!

- "Fixes" to Section 8-30g: again, remember all of those campaign promises about how "something has to be done about this bad law"....guess what did (not) happen? And we will try to get back to the "affordable housing" topic in a future column....

- "Robo-calls": don't we all enjoy those recorded entreaties to vote for/against Politician X? I did a proposed bill on this, as did several other legislators, and I am  happy to tell you that I did vote in committee for a bill ( SB 157 ) on this topic, and I am hopeful that this one, or something very similar thereto, can actually get done !

- Protests at funerals : and there has been news coverage of my bill on this topic (HB-6060) which has already had a public hearing at the Judiciary Committee; my thanks to Darienite David Polett, and veterans' groups for calling this issue to my attention so that we could address it with legislation. Now if it can only keep moving through the process....

 And finally, on a sad note, you may have seen Helen McNell in the Darien obituaries last week. Helen's passing (she was well into her feisty 90's) not only marks the passing of one of the most visible, lively, and hard-working members of her political generation in Darien, but also the end of a political era.  If you were ever on the right side (or perhaps more importantly the wrong side) of Helen in a political tumult, you did not forget it, and things were certainly NOT dull, because Helen always got the last word! But most importantly, she and her late husband Bob were tireless volunteers for many, many community causes in our area, and their brand of non-stop commitment not only enlivened Five Mile

River Road, but all of the rest of us who were not moving fast enough to keep up with them.

Rest in peace, Helen.

As always please feel free to contact me with your concerns and issues. As your state representative, it is my job, and my priority to represent you and to make sure that your needs and concerns are addressed at the capitol.  You can write to me at Room 4200, Legislative Office Building, Hartford, CT 06106-1591, send me e-mail at John.Ryan@housegop.ct.gov or call my office toll-free at 1-800-842-1423.