Last night the fog rolled in. And it’s still foggy this morning. Which clearly must have affected The Hour, as their web site is down. Most of the news coverage today centers on the state budget and the extraordinary dud this session managed to produce. Fingers are pointing, characteristically everywhere but where but at themselves.

From Brian Lockhart’s Advocate article:

But Amann said that if Rell had participated directly in budget talks, the issue might have been resolved without a special session.
…
Rell last week spoke with Amann and Senate President Pro Tempore Donald Williams, D-Brooklyn, by phone about the budget, Genuario said.

Amann said Rell’s predecessor, John Rowland, participated in more budget meetings.

But Genuario said he only remembered that happening in 2003, when it took the full summer for the two sides to reach a spending agreement.

In mid-June of that year, Rowland, who had vetoed the Democrats’ budget three times, invited party leaders to the governor’s mansion for talks and lunch.

“I think it’s helpful because it adds a bit of gravitas to the conversation,” former Senate President Kevin Sullivan said at the time. “(Rowland) can reign in Republicans. He can rein us in.”

But the talks with Rowland did not end the 2003 budget stalemate, which dragged on until August.

Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy, who lost last year’s Democratic gubernatorial primary to New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr., said he does not believe a governor should negotiate “the nitty gritty.”

“The governor’s role is to come in and close the deal,” Malloy said. “And it seems to me these parties are so far apart. They’d like the governor to come in because it would place more pressure on her to agree with them. But strategically, the governor’s position is not unreasonable.”

Legislative leaders made some progress in meetings Thursday and yesterday, Amann said, but he reiterated his belief Rell should join them.

“Bob Genuario, though we respect him a lot, has to go through tiers of power to make a decision. He has to go to the chief of staff (Lisa Moody), who goes to the governor,” Amann said.

After visiting the Pine Island Cemetery yesterday, I was reminded that the Indiana Jones IV will being filming in New haven on June 28. There is an open casting call. From the Connecticut Post:

Yale’s whip-cracking archaeology professor, Indiana Jones, is expected to shatter the calm of New Haven for 10 days beginning June 28, but before the adventurous Dr. Jones, played by Harrison Ford, can do anything, Paramount Pictures needs some extras.
Billy Dowd Casting will hold an open call for extras on Monday and Tuesday at the Omni Hotel at Yale, 155 Temple St., Whalley Room Second Floor, between 1 and 9 p.m.
Would-be extras need to bring a nonreturnable photo and must be 18 or older, according to the notice posted on the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism Film Division’s Web site.
The scene for the new “Indiana Jones” movie will allegedly feature a motorcycle chase, but the chances of seeing Ford in action are not yet known. People definitely will not see Sean Connery, the actor who played Indiana Jones’ father in the third installment of the series. Connery confirmed he’s not coming back to the role in numerous reports Thursday.
Besides “Indiana Jones,” the only other movie seeking extras is “Camp Hope,” now being shot in Litchfield County. Both casting notices were posted on the state’s Film Division’s Web site. Connecticut offers tax credits to production companies that film here, which has created more interest in the state.
Heidi Hamilton, the Film Division director, said the Web site is designed to provide information for actors and businesses hoping to land jobs with production crews.

That web site would be www.ctfilm.com..

source: The Norwalk Advocate, Dems: Rell needs to step up on budget, By Brian Lockhart, June 9 2007

source: The Connecticut Post, Casting calls close to home, by Rob Varnon, June 9, 2007