Session Over, No Budget, So What Did They Do?

Not much too comment on here, this AP article highlights, and lowlights the body of work the 5 month legislative session produced. From The Courant:


Major legislation that succeeded and failed in 2007

WINNERS:

JAMES TILLMAN – East Hartford man given $5 million in compensation for serving a prison term of more than 18 years for a rape that DNA evidence determined he did not commit.

ENERGY REFORM – After two years of debate, lawmakers passed large bill that includes everything from tax breaks for energy-efficient appliances to ways to reduce electricity demands at expensive peak times. But no immediate rate relief is expected.

PLAN B – Rape crisis advocates scored a victory by helping to pass a bill requiring all hospitals, including Catholic ones, to offer emergency contraception to rape victims.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA – Bill allows adults with specific debilitating medical conditions to cultivate and use marijuana to relieve symptoms. It’s uncertain whether governor will sign it.

JESSICA’S LAW – In honor of slain Florida girl, bill toughens sentences for child sex crimes and creates new crime with 25-year prison sentence for those who abuse a child under 13.

CHASE ROGERS – Legislature confirms former Appellate Court Judge Chase Rogers as second female chief justice of state Supreme Court.

IMMIGRANTS – Children of illegal immigrants granted in-state college tuition rates. It’s uncertain whether governor will sign it.

EMINENT DOMAIN – After years of dispute, lawmakers pass bill prohibiting property from being taken solely to boost property taxes.

TEACHERS – After years of underfunding, lawmakers pass bill that authorizes the state treasurer to borrow money to reduce the state’s $6.9 billion unfunded teacher pension liability.

TV PERSONALITIES – The Senate approved a bill that bars non-compete clauses in contracts for workers in the broadcast television and radio industry.

LOSERS:

BUDGET – Lawmakers and governor remained at odds over a new, two-year tax and spending plan. There’s disagreement about the need to raise taxes.

HEALTH CARE – Despite passing a bill that attempts to insure half of the state’s approximate 370,000 uninsured, it appeared destined for a veto because of budget impasse.

ELEPHANTS – There just wasn’t enough support for a bill that would make it a crime to use a bullhook or ankus – a sharp, pointed hook attached to a long handle – when handling circus elephants in Connecticut.

GAS TAX CUT – Republicans tried to amend numerous bills with a three-month rollback of the state’s 25-cent-per-gallon gas tax, but each time the effort failed. Bill was included in a vetoed tax bill as well.

TEEN VOTERS – Lawmakers fell short of enough votes to put a question on the November 2008 ballot, asking voters to amend the state constitution and allowing certain 17-year-olds to vote in presidential primary elections.

BOTTLE BILL – An effort to expand the longtime bottle redemption bill to include plastic containers for water, juice, sports drinks and flavored tea fell flat.

TRANS FATS – A move to ban restaurants from serving food prepared with frying oils containing artificial trans fat was expected to die in the House due to inaction.

SICK LEAVE – A bill requiring employers with more than 50 workers to provide paid sick days died in the House due to inaction.

SEX OFFENDER E-MAILS – A proposed e-mail registry for sex offenders died in the Senate due to inaction.

OPEN CONTAINER – A bill banning passengers from having an open container of alcohol failed in the House due to inaction.

ADOPTEES – Despite a late effort in the Senate, a proposal giving adoptees access to their birth records when they turn 21 died in the House due to inaction.

CONTRACTING REFORM – A compromise proposal that sets standards for privatized contracts died in the House after Democrats pulled it from consideration following lengthy debate

  • Alfonso Salazar

    I believe that they did pass a law that makes all cigarettes fire proof. In other words the must go out after burning for a certain time. THATS A LIFE CHANGER FOR THE RESIDENTS OF CONNECTICUT, might help every family to afford to live in this state.

    More “Feel Good Legislation.” Next session they may pass a bill to protect us from terrorist attacks by hummingbirds.

  • Norwalker

    Smoking material caused fires are the leading cause of fatal fires in the country. The move towards fire safe cigarettes should save lives.

  • Anonymous

    You sound like a lobbyist for the tobacco industry. Here’s an idea that would result in even fewer fatal fires: ban cigarettes altogether.

  • Norwalker

    Just the fact mame, just the facts. Nothing to do with the industry, just a firefighter.

  • Nature Freak

    Norwalker is right, there are many brush fires started because of people throwing out cigarettes. This was a good one.

  • Anonymous

    Jessica’s law is one of the best ones passed. I do believe however, the background checks will be a huge detractor from municipalities hiring unsavory applicants and therefore protecting our innocent children from being subjected to those who wish them harm. There are government and state grants that municipalities can apply for and should. If this is a law then monies need to be forthcoming to offset costs.

  • Ed Portman

    BOTTLE BILL -

    I don’t get the reasoning behind the failure of this bill. All one has to do is to walk at low tide on any harbor in the COUNTRY and you will see millions of empty water bottles clogging up the shore. What’s the problem, someone don’t want the homeless to make a few extra bucks. or is the industry lobby just throwing too much money at the lawmakers to make them NOT see the obvious sense in this law. Of course if you don’t live on the shore, then you don’t see the disgusting wash up along the beaches. I guess inland they have just gotten so used to see empty water bottles in the gutter, that the have started to make believe that they are flowers. What am I missing here? Did you know that it cost the United States Government 1.6 billion dollars to keep the District of Columbia, and Virginia, sewers clear of plastic water bottle jams. At least pass a law that makes them bio degradable after 5 years. We can manage to put a probe down on Mars which at it closest is 35 million miles away. But we seem unable to tackle something as complicated as plastic water bottles.

  • Ed Portman

    Lets see it boils down to 3 Winners that will effect the safety and quality of life in Connecticut.

    PLAN B – Rape crisis advocates scored a victory by helping to pass a bill requiring all hospitals, including Catholic ones, to offer emergency contraception to rape victims.

    JESSICA’S LAW – In honor of slain Florida girl, bill toughens sentences for child sex crimes and creates new crime with 25-year prison sentence for those who abuse a child under 13.

    EMINENT DOMAIN – After years of dispute, lawmakers pass bill prohibiting property from being taken solely to boost property taxes.

    If this bunch worked that diligently for the Petroleum industry they would end up costing us 200 bucks a gallon for gas.

    That’s why they make the BIG BUCKS being politicians and not CEO’s of major companies. I guess every society needs its, blood sucking leaches, ticks, fleas and vampire bat, types. Think I am being to harsh? What do you think a poll of 1000 people from every walk of life, would say if you asked them which they trusted more, a politician or a used car salesman?