Lamont: First session was a good one
HARTFORD — While his signature highway tolls legislation remains stalled, Gov. Ned Lamont on Thursday reflected on his first few months in office and was amazed at the amount of work accomplished by the Legislature.
During a morning postmortem with Capitol reporters, the governor was vague about the possible schedule for a special session that he will call on transportation infrastructure, and he conceded that important health care reforms failed to win approval before the midnight Wednesday.
But overall, Lamont thinks that the climate for business will be improved through the phase-in of the the $15 minimum wage and the structure for a paid family and medical leave program. “This is a state that’s had a tough time over the last couple of decades and think it sends a message loud and clear that this is a fresh start for the state,” he said in a Capitol meeting room.
A few hours earlier, in a relaxed five-minute appearance before a joint meeting of the House and Senate in the ornate House chamber, after midnight turned into early Thursday morning and the session was over, Lamont bragged about a balanced, on-time budget, praised some of the major bills, then joked about the major unfinished business left. He then invited all 187 lawmakers to his office for a beverage.
“Fiscal stability is the key to economic growth,” Lamont told lawmakers, thanking them and nonpartisan staff. “I hope it didn’t take too much of a toll on you,” he quipped, as a ripple of laugher acknowledged that the highway toll issue, unsolved and problematic in the regular budget-setting session, will drag into a summer special session.
The last few minutes before the midnight deadline was an occasion for the Senate to approve 45 bills, with no discussion, as fast as Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, could cryptically read their numbers.
But in the House, majority Democrats waited until the last five minutes to offer legislation that would result in a revote in one Stratford precinct where 75 people received the wrong ballots in November and Democratic Rep. Phil Young won by 13 ballots.
Both Rep. Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, and Rep. Jason Perillo, RShelton, cried foul and harshly criticized Democrats for the tactic. While Perillo was railing, House Majority Leader Matt Ritter announced that the midnight deadline was imminent and then the resolution itself died.
Earlier in the day, Ritter told reporters that Lamont was easy to talk with. “When you get a call and the governor says ‘hey can you stop by, I’ve got to chat with you about something,’ it’s really great,” Ritter said, stressing that Lamont has a willingness to engage, and a flexibility.
Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz said that the major victories of the session, which started January 9, was the increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour over the next four-anda-half years; and the family and medical leave legislation.
“I’m really happy overall how the House ran this year,” Aresimowicz said, stressing the cooperation with Republicans was a key to running business, with only one marathon all-nighter that led to the minimum wage vote.
“The minimum wage is something I’m really, really proud about,” he said. “To allow individuals, younger individuals, people who are working multiple jobs to make a living wage, is really important to me.”
Aresimowicz agreed that Lamont’s open-door policy was real. “He was great and there was deep discussion. Was there a learning curve for the legislative process? Sure. It’s a big curve. The process is very chaotic and moves very quickly.”
He said a good example of Lamont’s learning on the job was the realization after taking office that trucks-only tolls would not raise enough revenue for the state’s infrastructure needs.
“He’s being criticized for it and I think that’s absolutely not fair,” Aresimowicz said. “He looked at it and changed course because the problem was that severe. So I give him an incredible amount of respect more, so than any political leader I’ve known.”
House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, said she would rate Lamont’s first session as mediocre. “I would give him a C on his best day, maybe even a D,” she said. “You raise taxes; you borrowed way more than you said; you’re spending more money; you’re raiding the Special Transportation Fund.”