House Republican Press Release

September 11, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Bonding, Various Topics and a Few Remembrances…

By State Representative John J. Ryan

In our recent columns we have taken a quick look at some issues relating to the General Assembly committees that I have the pleasure of serving on. In the meantime, the world is hardly standing still, as usual there are far more topics than column space, so let’s take on as many quick items as we have room. Here goes:

Special session/the “bonding implementer bill” – No, we still have not had a Session to vote on how the State’s capital improvements funds are spent, and this is usually part of the budget package vote. If you think this is long overdue, and that this is an example of the “supermajority” also wanting to run the Bond Commission, you have succinctly gotten my viewpoint. And Governor Jodi Rell is of the opinion that if this process was OK for every previous Governor, it should be OK now. Our latest “target date” is now September 19; stay tuned!

Governor Rell’s website – I have mentioned this before that if you only have a little time to follow what is happening in State government, this really has become a very good site. It is terse, almost always informative vs. partisan, and covers a wide range of topics. It is at: www.ct.gov/governorrell . A few recent entries give you the idea; see the 9.07.07 and 9.10.07 entries on the Avon Mountain – truck situation, a 9.05.07 entry concerning First Responders, a 9.07.07 entry on stolen data issues, a 9.06.07 entry on math and science grants available…..Of course, there are links to a great deal of other info.

Primaries - Of course you know that this year (an odd-numbered year) is the year for local, as opposed to state or federal elections, in November, but there are lively primaries occurring this week in some places in Connecticut! As a regular column reader, you are aware that every year the State sends hundreds of millions of $$ to our large cities (at least they are large for our State) and interestingly, the two most closely watched primaries are in Bridgeport, where State Senator Bill Finch is being opposed by State Representative Chris Caruso for the seat Mayor Fabrizi is supposedly vacating (I say  ‘supposedly’ because there is a rumor that Fabrizi will get back in the race if Finch loses the primary – hey, you can’t make this stuff up !), and in Hartford where incumbent Mayor Eddie Perez has a field of primary challengers. Of course all of the afore-mentioned are Democrats. And why should you care? If you follow where State resources are directed, and the challenges that continue to exist in these places, the primary results will be very interesting.

DOT/I-95 Rest Stops –Note the coverage elsewhere in this paper; this is one more issue that is not likely to go away, or be resolved soon, and will need continual long-term monitoring and follow-up!

“3 Strikes Law” –Also, note the news about our House Republican proposal in response to the very recent Connecticut Supreme Court decision on this topic. Hopefully, this will not go the route of the “cell phone/driving” bill which took years to get passed, or eminent domain reform….

Finally, two non-legislative thoughts; the recent funeral in Modena, Italy, reminded me that, at least

I could say I had heard Pavarotti ‘live’, assuming being far away amidst tens and tens of thousands of listeners observing the speck on the open air stage counts as being “in the hall”. The media folks pointed out that Pavarotti had done much to popularize opera, had achieved “rock-star status”, generously supported many charities, etc. ….it seems to me to me that maybe Pavarotti was transcendent, not only because even a non-opera buff could instantly recognize his distinctive voice, but because of the message from his “signature song ‘Nessun Dorma” [from Verdi’s Turandot] is so positive, powerful and uplifting. So sometime, after listening to his rendition from the first “3 Tenors” CD, look up the translation, and you will perhaps glean why he is so closely identified with this singular aria.

And it was hard to believe that September 11, is already six years past. In addition to your own remembrances, it might be a good idea to note that some charities are still diligently working away at 9.11 causes, and still need our support.

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, and 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.