House Republican Press Release

December 12, 2006

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Hartford Happenings…and Honors

That all-too-brief lull between election time and the commencement of a new legislative term (which begins with the opening of the Session and the swearing-in of the Governor and all other elected officials on Wednesday, January 3) is moving quickly. At least I was able to escape to the alma mater for the last home football game, and then to my favorite warm venue for a short respite, but POOF!, it is already mid December! So as the governmental clock grinds inexorably along, these are some of the many things happening:

Legislative organizing or re-organizing is proceeding full steam: some legislators retired (or were not re-elected]) new faces are getting offices, staffed and acquainted, new "rosters" for committee assignments are drafted, new administrative personnel come aboard as others move on.......while bureaucracy may look constant, the players are always changing! In my circumstance, since the House Republican caucus shrunk, that means we have fewer members to cover the many positions and committees, so I fully expect this involves more duties, not less.

A legislator's mailbox groans with stress at this time of year: every state agency head, every commissioner, every non-profit and major business leader and lobbyist sends you a letter with variants on the theme "of congratulations on your election and we look forward to working with you in the upcoming....", quickly followed by a position paper from each on their legislative agenda, then holiday cards from each and every ...(you thought you got too much mail from candidates during the election?)

The media (occasionally) begins to get the idea that the election is over: e.g. local daily's recent column “Dashing cold water on state budgeting"; imagine the notion that there may be some disparity between fiscal reality and "priorities that were being talked about just eight weeks ago"! (And I know that I have to make a New Year's resolution to refrain from looking at editorials or quotes from media anointed "political experts.")

Clues begin appearing (for those who can see them!) of likely legislative developments: our last column ("Questions...") touched on a few possibilities of how issues might eventuate, so for example regarding taxes, an interesting clue is this quote from an Associated Press story: "asked whether they plan to push through a higher income tax rate for millionaires, Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney D-New Haven, said Democrats have always favored 'more progressive taxation'. " Another clue (which I expect the media to miss) as to tax policy trends will be the imminent announcement of some key new legislative positions by the majority party.

There is much more to cover, but let's take note of a different (and more worthy?) topic. I hope you saw this week's news that two of our distinguished "locals" were honored as Governor Rell announced 10 new veterans for induction into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame. If you have had any community involvement in the last few decades, you will easily recognize the names of Douglas A. Bora, Sr. of Rowayton and Evans Kerrigan, long of Darien, who very recently moved to Rocky Hill. I am honored to know both of these wonderful role models, and I am pleased the Governor saw fit to honor them. As you do your Christmas cards, drop Doug and Evans a line and thank them for many, many years of service to our nation and our community.

And best wishes to you and your family for the holidays!

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, Hartford, CT 06106-1591, send me e-mail at John.Ryan@housegop.state.ct.us or call my office toll-free at 1-800-842-1423.