What is Plum Island? Well, Nelson DeMille wrote a great thriller about it, and not too long after that came out, the feds decided that secret animal disease experiments were better off in Kansas. There’s a book called What’s a matter with Kansas? written about an entirely different subject but today is about life’s little connections.

from a press release:

Governor Rell Requests Federal Briefing

On Future of Plum Island

Concerned over ‘Limited Information’ of Plans

to Move Classified Animal Research Lab to Kansas

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced she is pressing the federal government for more details and clarity on plans to move its highly classified animal research facility from Plum Island, N.Y. to Kansas and over future uses of the island. The Governor expressed a range of concerns and suggestions in 10 pages of formal comments she submitted for a federal environmental study and has also requested a briefing from the pertinent U.S. agencies involved.

Technically in New York waters, Plum Island is less than 10 miles from the Connecticut coast and within an area – between New York and Connecticut – that is densely populated, the Governor wrote in her letter to U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA), Homeland Security (DHS) and the General Services Administration (GSA).

“Over the last two decades, Connecticut and New York have invested billions of dollars to protect and preserve the natural resources of Long Island Sound. In light of the classified nature associated with much of the work on Plum Island, there is limited information as to challenges that will materialize during the transition period,” the Governor said. “In fact, there is very little information available that lays out all of the potential scenarios associated with such a transition. This has generated uncertainty and a great deal of concern over the future of the island.”

Since 1954, the largely undeveloped island has been home to a highly classified animal disease testing laboratory. Plum Island scientists have conducted research into foot-and-mouth disease, which is highly contagious to livestock and other animal diseases.  The USDA operated the lab until 2003 when it was transferred to federal Homeland Security. The federal government is now planning to transfer the facility to Kansas, a move expected to be completed by 2018.

“There is a great deal of work that needs to be accomplished to appropriately prepare for the closure of Plum Island and the opening of the new national laboratory,” the Governor said. “While I understand that the GSA is proceeding with the formal process to develop an environmental impact statement (EIS), this process is directly related to the potential future sale or use of the island, not the actual closure and transition.”

The Governor said Connecticut strongly advocates any private sales of portions of the island be made with the greatest conservation value in mind. For example, conservation groups, local governments be allowed to purchase areas of the island that support the highest concentration of nesting shorebirds, marine mammals, turtles and other wildlife.

Specifically, Governor Rell has requested a briefing on:

• The process that has just started;
• Plans for closing Plum Island facilities
• Plans for cleaning up remnants of laboratories and past military operations;
• Plans for transportation materials from the island to the mainland

Any and all efforts to preserve and protect the natural resources of Plum Island and Long Island Sound.

from a press release:

Governor Rell Says “No!” To Clean Energy

Statement of Environment Connecticut Program Director Christopher Phelps on Governor Rell’s Veto of SB 493, An Act Reducing Electricity Costs and Promoting Renewable Energy

West Hartford, CT – In her February budget address to the legislature, Governor Rell said, “Kermit the Frog had it wrong all these years, I’m afraid. It is easy to be green. Solar, fuel cells, wind turbines and geothermal – all hold the keys to economic and energy prosperity.” Less than twelve hours after making that statement, the Governor quietly proposed gutting Connecticut’s ratepayer-supported clean energy and energy efficiency funds. Then today, Governor Rell bowed to pressure from utilities and big energy companies and vetoed the clean energy bill passed by the legislature earlier this month. (SB 493.)

Apparently Kermit was right after all. It isn’t easy being green.

The clean energy bill vetoed by Governor Rell would be a huge step towards a cleaner, more efficient and more affordable energy future for Connecticut. The bill brought together some of the best energy proposals debated by the legislature over the course of the last two years. It included a proposal first made by Governor Rell herself in 2007 to streamline the state’s myriad energy planning and policy entities by bringing them together under one energy authority tasked with implementing a more affordable and cleaner energy policy for the state. It combined this good idea with expansion of the clean energy technologies such as solar, wind power, fuel cells, and energy efficiency that do indeed “hold the keys to economic and energy prosperity.”

Unfortunately, Governor Rell has lost the keys.

The Governor’s action means Connecticut’s energy future will be dirtier, less efficient, and more expensive. It means less clean energy, and more global warming pollution. It will cost Connecticut jobs in solar and other clean energy businesses, and it hamstrings efforts to cut energy bills and put money back in the pockets of families and businesses.

It is outrageous that Governor Rell has chosen to stand with dirty oil and big energy companies by vetoing the clean energy bill. We urge the legislature to stand with Connecticut’s environment, families and clean energy entrepreneurs and take action this year to get Connecticut back on track towards a cleaner, more efficient, and more affordable energy future.

“Amazing” says State Rep John Geragosian -D New Brittain.

“We were better off when they were playing solitaire,” says Turfgrrl.

“We shouldn’t be in the airport business,” says House Minority leader Larry Cafero.

So what are they doing up in Hartford? Well they, and by they I mean everyone in Hartford but the House and Senate Republicans, have bought into the idea that today’s spending can be put on a credit card for tomorrow’s residents to pay. They call it Economic Recovery Revenue Bonds. I call it doubling down on a losing hand.

“What I tell people is that I’m not very good with finances, but we balanced the budget with some very difficult choices,” Sen.�Edith G. Prague, D-Columbia, said. “We did our best. Hopefully things will get a little better.”

What they are essentially doing is borrowing 1.3 billion, and paying out of future revenues 180 million a year for 10 years. They are getting around the constitutional balanced budget amendment by actually issuing the bonds next fiscal year, when they hope the 1.3 billion really just needs to be 1 billion. Or something like that.

Here’s the problem:

Here’s the solution:

from a press release:

Governor Rell Celebrates Completion of�State Forensic Science Laboratory

Governor M. Jodi Rell today celebrated the completion of the state’s new, centralized�Forensic Science Laboratory, a facility that serves not only the Department of Public Safety and the State Police but law enforcement officials all across�Connecticut.

“Today we put the crowning touches on one of the most important � and most potent � tools in the law enforcement arsenal,” Governor Rell said during a ceremony at the�Meriden�laboratory. “Ask any television viewer � there is a host of shows these days with acronyms in their names. Forensic science is the name of the game in every police procedural, crime drama and murder mystery. It is one more instance of art imitating life, because thanks to pioneers like Dr. Henry Lee,Connecticut�has long been a leader in this important field.

“We have the latest technology, the best facilities and room to grow � which is especially important as this vital field becomes ever more critical to solving crimes and keeping people safe,” the Governor said. “From�DNA�analysis and entry into our databank to firearms, fingerprints and trace evidence, this lab can do it all. Of course, it’s not really the lab � it’s the people. It’s the highly trained, highly skilled and intensely dedicated scientists and technicians here who make it happen, and I am pleased that we are able to provide them with the facilities they need to do their vitally important job.”

The dedication ceremony marked the completion of the third phase of the expansion, modernization, and consolidation of DPS Division of Scientific Services facilities from around the state. The new, 21,750-square-foot addition�houses the Controlled Substances and Toxicology Laboratories, the Computer Crimes and Electronic Evidence Unit, work stations, offices and storage areas.

Phase I of the project, completed in 1994, houses the�DNA, CODIS data bank, Forensic Biology and Trace /Chemistry units. Phase II, completed in 1999, houses the Firearms and Toolmark unit, Photography/Imaging Lab, Latent Fingerprints and AFIS, Documents/Imprints Unit and lecture hall.

The Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory receives casework from state and local police and fire departments, prosecutors’ and public defenders’ offices and federal agencies. Cases range from identification of illicit substances to biological samples to computer crimes. Reports generated by the lab are used in criminal cases and are supported by the expert testimony of laboratory scientists.

One week ago today, Dan Malloy officially became a candidate for Governor.
Video:

Malloy continued his torrid pace of appearances, appearing on WFSB’s Face the State, answering questions from panelists Daniela Altimari of The Hartford Courant, Ted Mann of The Day, and host Dennis House.
Video (thanks to ctblogger):

Malloy’s Sunday appearances included a conversation with Connecticut Newsmakers host Tom Monahan.
Video (thanks again to ctblogger):

There’s more after the jump…
Continue Reading

Jon Lender breaks the story that a secret closed door session of the Judicial Selection Commission cleared the way for Bob Genuario to be eligible for appointment as a superior court judge. I bet Susan Bysiewicz would love to get that kind of secret action on those little legal technicalities too. Lender reports concerns held by Sate Senator Andrew McDonald, head of the legislative judiciary committee:

“Bob’s a very bright guy and I think he’d make a great judge someday. … [But] as much as I’d like to see him become a judge down the line, we still have to first deal with the fact that the judicial branch is breaking under financial pressure and needs all sorts of critical positions filled immediately. New judgeships aren’t among the positions cited by Judge Quinn as essential to the branch’s immediate needs.” Chief Court Admin- istrator Barbara Quinn had testified Jan. 19 about the judicial branch’s woes.

Any judicial nominee, including Genuario, would have to undergo a confirmation hearing before the committee co-chaired by McDonald and Rep. Michael Lawlor, D- East Haven, who last week voiced a dim view of hiring new judges when the court system has so many other pressing needs.

Like Lawlor, McDonald said Friday that he would have trouble moving judges’ nominations forward for approval by the full House and Senate until the administration shows a willingness to support legislation to help the judicial branch financially. “Even approaching the question of judgeships before we deal with the critical issues cited … as [judicial officials'] primary concerns seems unwarranted and irresponsible,” McDonald said.

It seems that the issue revolves around the dire financial state of the judicial branch. Remember that this past year the judicial branch wanted to close the Norwalk court house and ended up in a compromise to close the juvenile court house instead. As Lender reports:

When the state legislature’s judiciary committee held a hearing on Jan. 19 to try to address a lack of judicial branch funding that some said threatens to cripple the court system, it was Genuario, the budget director, who sat at the microphone and delivered an uncompromisingly glum financial forecast in behalf of the Rell administration.

Genuario was asked by a committee co-chairman, state Sen. Andrew McDonald, D- Stamford, what to expect in the next one or two years with regard to hiring freezes affecting executive- and judicial-branch agencies involved with law enforcement and courts.

“I see more of the same, Senator,” Genuario answered in the televised session. “I think hiring is going to have to be very tight across the board for the remainder of this fiscal year, and probably for the next one. The fact of the matter is that revenues are significantly down.”

Bob Genuario currently serves as director of the state’s budget office which deals with all those hiring freezes and budget issues.

File this under the continuing decline and fall of infrastructure. Why is Governor Rell targeting Town Aid funds? Because sticking it to the taxpayers of Connecticut is the expedient solution. She’d rather build a prison in Bridgeport than keep the hard working Fairfield County residents able to navigate their roads. From a press release:

PERONE CALLS ON GOV. TO�RELEASE ROAD�FUNDS FOR�NORWALK

State Representative�Chris Perone (D-Norwalk)�called on Governor Rell to release millions in state aid that would fund paving projects and road repairs in�Norwalk.

“The Governor’s decision is pennywise and pound foolish. Our city budget is down 37 percent. Yes, we have to cut the budget more on the state level, but where it’s clear that the expenditure will help stimulate the local economy by way of creating construction project jobs,�Norwalk�should be getting all the help it can. The city crafted a budget partly based on the spending promises the Governor previously made. And to renege on those promises without warning is devastating and unfair to our city,” Rep. Perone said.

Due to the current budget deficit, the governor has held back $30 million in Town Aid Road (TAR) Grants.

Towns usually receive TAR funding in January and July each year.��During the last fiscal year�Norwalk�received $440,753 in TAR funding.

I’m glad that someone is taking a look at the provision in the recently passes Senate health care reform bill that has Nebraska’s medicare Medicaid reimbursement at a full 100%. The Courant’s Christopher Keating�reports:

In a move being made by other states,�Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell called for legal action Wednesday if Nebraska receives more Medicaid money than the other 49 states as part of the national health care bill.

Rell wrote a letter to Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal regarding a provision inserted into the massive federal legislation that would fully fund Medicaid for the home state of Senator Ben Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat. The provision has been widely reported as part of the many deals struck to reach a compromise on health care.

Across the country,�attorneys general in at least seven states are voicing similar concerns about the Nebraska compromise and�questioning its legality.

The Senate vote on the bill is scheduled at 8 a.m. Thursday. The Christmas Eve vote is highly unusual as the Senate has not been in session on that day in the past 46 years.

Unlike Connecticut, Nebraska would be able to receive 100 percent reimbursement of its Medicaid costs if the provision is enacted and signed into law by President Barack Obama. Currently, Connecticut receives 50 percent of the cost for Medicaid, which is a federal-state program that provides health care for the poor.

“The inequity of this provision is astonishing,” Rell wrote Wednesday in her�letter to Blumenthal. “The�doling out of favors for senators is appalling. The cost of this federal health care bill is beyond comprehension because of all the special provisions included to garner the 60 votes for passage.”

“By the time Washington finishes with this proposal and drops it at the taxpayers’ doorsteps, it will be monstrous,” Rell said. “The�Senate may get their votes, but the American taxpayer will get the bill. The best Christmas gift Congress could deliver to the American people would be to strip out every special consideration, every gift, every piece of pork and concentrate on the heart of the matter – real and affordable reform.”

Right on. Strip them out, but then wouldn’t that derail Chris Dodd’s attempt at erasing his very negative polling numbers in Connecticut? From another story, this time from Politico’s John Bresnahan:

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) is using every last bit of clout he has accumulated during three decades in the Senate, calling in favors, winning sweetheart deals and steering hundreds of millions of dollars to his home state.

He’s one of the most politically vulnerable Democratic senators, and he’s not being shy about using his influence to insert into 2010 spending bills dozens of earmarks for senior citizen centers, low-income heating assistance, education programs, new buses and highway funds in Connecticut.

Dodd is pushing the Pentagon to buy more Connecticut-built aircraft engines, and he’s pressing for more federal dollars for high-speed rail in the Nutmeg State.

And his earmark largesse doesn’t include a $100 million provision he anonymously stuck into the Senate Democratic health care package, money that Dodd wants to go to the University of Connecticut’s medical center.

At first, Dodd didn’t want to claim credit for that one, but he ’fessed up when asked by The Associated Press.

“With a tough reelection battle next year, Sen. Dodd is trying to move anything in Washington that isn’t nailed down up to Connecticut,” said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a spending watchdog group.

Ellis’s group estimates that Dodd — either by himself or with other lawmakers — has secured 92 earmarks worth at least $121 million for Connecticut.

I think Rell is thinking along those lines too, not to say the Nebraskan Medicare Medicaidlargess is particularly bad for Connecticut when you consider that the medicare tab for the state is about 20% of the budget, or 3,724 million. About half of that is covered by the feds, so that leaves 1.8 billion on the hook for Connecticut Taxpayers.

The Courant is reporting on properties that Governor Rell wants to sell. Nothing like selling at the bottom of the market.

Here’s the areas list:

NORWALK

• Route 7 @ Elm St -�0.09 acres
• Martin Luther King – 0.13 acres

GREENWICH

• Ferris Dr – 0.54 acres

FAIRFIELD

• Route 59 – 0.15 acres

BRIDGEPORT

• Daisy Court – 0.07 acres
• Myrtle Ave – 0.18 acres
• West Ave – 0.21 acres

The complete list can be found here:�www.ct-surplus-property.com