RELL'S PERSPECTIVE
 

The 2008 Democrat-controlled General Assembly closed shop and went home May 7th, with lawmakers eager to focus on their reelection campaigns instead of the state's fiscal woes. That leaves Republican Gov. Jodi Rell in charge, and she's okay with that.

Rell's already issued a ban on out-of-state travel for state employees (unless trips are paid for by other sources such as the federal government), and she's also ordered restrictions on gasoline and credit card usage by state employees.

If state revenues continue to decline, threatening the balanced budget, Rell is willing to take additional steps. In a TV interview for Connecticut Public Television's On The Record program (hosted by yours truly), Rell remarked: "I don't mind being the bad guy. People in this state understand. No one relishes being the one to say 'we can't afford it,' but we're all doing it right now in our own households." The governor hinted she might have to freeze state hiring in the future if the economic picture darkens.

Oddly, when Rell struck a deal with Democrats to stick with the existing two-year state budget, Republican lawmakers refused to go along. They tried unsuccessfully to get a full debate in the House and Senate on their "alternative" budget. They said the GOP plan would be more responsive than the existing plan which Republicans dubbed "the do-nothing budget."

Asked if she was embarrassed by the Republican "revolt' on the budget, Rell said she simply could not go along with the GOP plan which was based on offering state employees early retirement to save state dollars. "They wanted to use that money for additional spending; but the fact is we can't afford it," said Rell.

Lawmakers and the governor have had it easy in recent years when a healthy economy resulted in huge budget surpluses. Now the tide has turned and many economists believe a recession is settling in, and it could last a while. The political climate could go south as well. Rell, who's enjoyed high poll ratings other pols can only fantasize about, is up for reelection in 2010. But will she run?

"I would tell you I am leaning (toward) 'yes,'" said the governor on the CPTV program. "I just picked up my papers for an exploratory committee" (for a 2010 run).

She acknowledged that many in politics have theorized that she proved she could get elected in her own right back in 2006, and might be ready to fade into the sunset. "The latest rumor is that I was going to resign and let Mike (Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele) take over as governor to give him a leg up," said Rell. But the chief executive declared: "I'm not resigning. I'm not going anywhere. I enjoy being governor."

Rell also offered some comments on the presidential campaign. Asked if she has any advice on a vice presidential running mate for her favorite candidate, presumed Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, Rell said: "I have a couple of ideas on who it should be, not me, but I hope it will be someone who can balance the ticket."

As for the Democrats, Rell figures Sen. Barack Obama has "the momentum" to take that party's presidential nomination, but she added: "Don't count Hillary out."

If you're reading this web column early in the week, you can see an encore run of my On The Record interview with Gov. Rell on Tuesday, May 20, at 11:30 p.m. on CPTV. You can also see the interview online at CPTV OTR with Steve Kotchko.

Posted 5/19/08

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