With only 56 working days left, the Senate Democrats are putting the pressure on Governor Rell to make good on her opening day speech promise. They told the media on Wednesday that the comprehensive economic relief plan proposed last week can be passed into law within one month if everyone rolls up their sleeves and puts their minds to it.

Senate President Don Williams (D - Brooklyn) and Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney (D - New Haven) charge that despite Governor Rell's promise to "work across party lines to 'design a stimulus package that works,'" she has not gotten behind the "Emergency Relief Plan for Connecticut" that the Senate Democrats proposed last week.

As a result, this week, Williams and Looney announced that they have amended their plan in hopes that the Governor will now offer her support. The relief plan is broken into two phases:

1. 1) Immediate help to be approved by the legislature within one month: energy assistance ($10 million), mortgage relief (revolving loan fund), and rental assistance for public housing tenants ($4 million).
2. 2) Tax relief tied to end of the fiscal year budget surplus: allocating 80 percent of the July 1, 2008 state budget surplus to targeted and progressive tax relief.

Williams and Looney added that the first phase would be covered by current budget transfers and bonding and would not exceed the spending cap. The Senate Democrats still intend to advocate for the enactment of a state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and targeted relief for small businesses during budget negotiations for the next fiscal year.

"This relief plan will offer immediate help to those who need it most," said Senator Looney, "...we want to make a commitment to the many middle-income families who are struggling to make ends meet."

Meanwhile, House Republicans challenged the Democratic majority to get its act together and enact several key features of the economic relief proposal outlined on January 30. After describing the plan and assessing the number of committees that will need to review and approve its pieces, the House Republicans say if the Democrats really want to do something for the middle class and the little guy, they can do it by March 19. A very aggressive pace, but one that House Republican leader Larry Cafero says can "mitigate the effects of an economic slide in Connecticut."

Word around the Capitol is not to lace up those track shoes just yet - there's still more discussion, debate, and negotiations that need to take place before any proposal hits the Governor's desk.

The list of open seats grows by one this week. Republicans are looking at the upcoming elections with even wider eyes as five-term incumbent, Senate Republican Tom Herlihy (Simsbury), announced that he will not seek re-election in the fall. This marks the third Republican Senator thus far this year that is bowing out. Senator Bill Nickerson announced a few weeks ago that 17 years and over 100,000 votes was his limit, and Senator David Cappiello is eyeing a run for Congress against newly elected Congressman Chris Murphy.

The front runner for the Republicans is current State Representative Kevin Witkos (R- Canton). Witkos is currently a Canton Police Sergeant serving his third term in the House. He pulled off an upset defeat over a long time popular Democratic Representative, now environmental lobbyist, Jessie Stratton.

Herlihy's 8th Senate district has become increasingly more competitive for Democrats over the past few years. This was evident in the 2006 election when a relatively unknown insurance executive, Steve Barry, nearly defeated Herlihy, losing by only a few hundred votes in a recount. They say timing is everything and the most likely Democrat to run up until the last election was always the 2006 Democratic Lieutenant Governor hopeful, Mary Glassman. But this past fall, Glassman was elected as the First Selectwoman of Simsbury and has made it clear that she is very happy to be back in her hometown.

Looking at the 8th Senate seat, it covers eight complete towns and parts of three others (Avon, Barkhamsted, Canton, Colebrook, Granby, Hartland, Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk, Simsbury, and Torrington). It stretches up to the most northern corner of the state to Salisbury and runs along the Farmington River to Avon. As the whole Farmington Valley slowly is becoming competitive for Democrats, this race will be one where both caucuses will focus their time, energy, and strategy. It's winnable for either party and will depend on who can muster up the strongest candidate.

Even in his last session, we can count on Sen. Herlihy to continue to speak out loudly for the people of the eighth. He's a passionate debater and a fast learner. His colleagues - Democrats and Republicans alike - will greatly miss him at the Capitol in 2009.

As you know, this feature will appear in each edition of In the Loop and is intended to keep you up to date on what's happening in various state agencies. Sometimes we'll focus on a new appointee or other times new initiatives or policies that impact the way people do business in CT or how an agency operates. We learned in our fall survey that many of you are interested in a feature to keep "in the loop" regarding state agencies. As opportunities arise, we also plan to feature news about other statewide officer holders in this corner as well.

A permanent solution

This past week, Governor Rell appointed Karen Senich to be the Executive Director of the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism (CCT). Senich is no stranger to the agency; she has served as the Commission's Acting Director since January 2007. Governor Rell cited Senich's work during the past year as the reason for her promotion, "For the past 12 months, Karen has proven herself to be a highly effective manager who is passionate about preserving and promoting Connecticut's cultural and tourism assets," Governor Rell said.

Senich resides in Middlebury and graduated from George Washington University and Tulane University School of Law. She is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and practiced law for over 9 years prior to working at CCT.

Senator Gary LeBeau (D - East Hartford), co- chair of the Commerce Committee, applauded the appointment. "Ms. Senich has proven her ability to do the job over the past year. She has been very energetic and effective," LeBeau stated.

This permanent appointment is important as Governor Rell introduced a major initiative to protect and preserve CT's unique cultural and historic feel. "Karen shares my vision that we can enhance our quality of life and economic vitality by shining a bright light on the state's many diverse cultural and historic treasures," Governor Rell added. If passed, Senich will be overseeing Governor Rell's proposed creation of a $10 million Cultural Treasures grant program and the creation of a $20 million Cultural Treasures grant program for capital improvement projects to enhance the state's arts, cultural, historic, and tourist venues.

For more information on the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, please click the link below.