Latest On State Budget

A picture says a thousands words, so while the House and Senate passed the state budget, the details alas, will require time to digest, and who knows if Rell will sign the thing. But if you’re Larry Cafero, or a Republican who thinks that your voice is being heard, I think solitaire players of Connecticut beg to differ. Sort of like the Connecticut legislative elections in general, the Republican lose seats and the population elects legislators who get to play solitaire. UPDATE: Rell says no signature but no veto either.

Reps are identified as Rep. Barbara L. Lambert, D-Milford and Rep. John F. Hennessy, D-Bridgeport. I think its Rep. Genga’s computer on ESPN.

UPDATE 2: Ken Dixon has the interviews with the legislators::

Neither Lambert nor Hennessy would apologize for their game-playing Tuesday and Cafero, R-Norwalk, didn’t ask for any.

In fact, during a typical debate, many of the 151 House members and 36 senators are on their computers reading bill analyses, responding to constitute e-mail, scanning on-line newspapers, keeping up with major-league baseball and, yes, playing a little solitaire, which is programmed into every legislative laptop.
On session days like Monday, there are always a half dozen or so smokers who gather at any one time, nowhere near the debate, under the portico at the south entrance of the Capitol, near Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s parking space. Others lounge back in House staff offices and caucus rooms.

Lambert believes it was the first time she played solitaire in the House chamber.
“We had a lull and I had it on my screen,” said Lambert, adding that she had thoroughly studied the various budgets introduced over the last few months and there was nothing Cafero could say to change her mind from supporting the Democratic package.

“You do not have to look at Larry to know exactly what he’s doing with his theatrics,” Lambert said. “Larry wasn’t discussing anything that was new. My mind was made up in our caucuses. I knew what our changes were and what the governor proposed.” Lambert said she was fully aware of Cafero’s argument.
“I was still listening to him,” Lambert said. “I asked Jack what he was doing and this is probably the first time I’ve played solitaire. I have no excuses because I work very, very hard and I was certainly listening intently, but Larry was really going on. I respect Larry as an individual. He’s humorous. There’s laughter when he’s talking. He should know I always look at him.”

Hennessy, a member of the legislative Finance Committee, said he was also paying attention. “I was listening to every word that Larry said,” he said in an afternoon phone interview.

“I’ve heard it all before,” he said. “I’ve been engaged in the budget process all these months. I knew how I was going to vote. There was certainly no disrespect to the minority leader. It’s easy to pay attention. It was a 13-hour day and at the moment in time, I was taking a little a break.”