ONE SPEECH ONLY; INAUGURATION: BREAKING WITH TRADITION, RELL WON'T ADDRESS LEGISLATURE AT ITS OPENING TODAY;
BYLINE: CHRISTOPHER KEATING; Capitol Bureau Chief
For the first time in more than 40 years, the General Assembly will open its legislative session today without a speech by the governor.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell has decided to give only one speech for the day -- her inaugural address that will be delivered in the atrium of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
From John Dempsey to Ella Grasso to John Rowland, all governors have spoken to a joint session of the legislature in the Hall of the House at the state Capitol in a tradition that covers Democrats and Republicans.
Despite the break with that tradition, House Speaker James Amann said Rell is entitled to her decision after winning an overwhelming election victory.
``She's welcome in our chamber at any time. It's her decision,'' Amann said. ``That's her prerogative. We would have liked to have her in the chamber.''
As a legislator and then lieutenant governor who spent 20 years at the Capitol before becoming governor, Rell is well aware of the tradition regarding speeches. In the past, some governors have offered detailed policy proposals on opening day in the annual State of the State address, such as Gov. Lowell P. Weicker's speech in January 1993 on how the state should tackle the issue of school desegregation in light of the Sheff vs. O'Neill lawsuit.
Rell, however, decided that she wants to make ``one speech that is very general -- mostly tone, direction,'' said Christopher Cooper, Rell's spokesman. ``She wanted to wait until the budget address [in February] to lay out more details. This opening day speech is much more thematic than specific.''
Expected to last about eight minutes, the speech will be too short to offer complicated details of how the state should solve its vexing problems, such as stemming skyrocketing electricity rates and providing health coverage for the uninsured. Rell could have offered her new health plan on opening day, but Cooper said that was not unveiled to the General Assembly because it does not require legislative approval. Rell's health plan was unveiled two days after Christmas during a quiet week when many lawmakers were away from the Capitol.
The plan would require no state money, but it would depend on finding health insurers willing to provide benefits for $250 per month or less per person. Some Democrats are concerned that the plan could leave clients with sizable out-of-pocket costs.
As the legislature prepared for its 2007 session, the House Democrats on Tuesday announced their assignments for 27 legislative committees. One of the surprises was the selection of Rep. Diana S. Urban, a former Republican from North Stonington who became a Democrat less than two months ago, as vice chairwoman of the government administration and elections committee. The high-profile committee held controversial hearings regarding the fundraising activities of Rell's powerful chief of staff, M. Lisa Moody.
Moody was suspended for two weeks starting in December 2005 for handing out invitations on state time, but the controversy stretched out for months into the campaign season in 2006. Urban was rewarded with a high post, but Amann said he did not make the appointment with the specific intention of sending a message to the Republicans.
Urban wanted to work with Rep. Christopher Caruso, the administration and elections committee co-chairman who is known for his criticism of Moody, former Gov. John G. Rowland and others. Some insiders surmised that Caruso would be ousted from his co-chairman's position for his outspokenness, but Caruso's supporters said all along that he would be reappointed. Now, he will have a partner in legislation.
``Diana and Chris actually get along extremely well,'' Amann said Tuesday. ``She will help him to settle down sometimes when he gets a little rambunctious. Is that the word?''
Citing Urban's six years in the legislature as a Republican, Amann rejected the notion that some Democrats might be resentful that a new Democrat would receive a high-profile position.
``Diana has been a friend to this caucus for a long time,'' Amann said.
One of Amann's biggest tasks was trying to please his newly expanded caucus of 107 Democrats -- the largest class in more than 30 years.
``It wasn't easy, but I think we made most people happy,'' Amann said. ``I only had a couple of people moaning.''
The House Republicans, who have dubbed themselves ``The Fighting 44,'' are seeking to change the House rules today on several issues, including an effort to ban late-night sessions unless there is a two-thirds vote by the chamber. Democrats, though, responded that they largely avoided late-night sessions last year and did not see a need for changing the rules.