Heard on OTR.org:

"The nuclear industry is pushing  a renaissance - some would say "relapse" - by arguing that nuclear power is economically attractive.

Question: Isn't it true that the nuclear industry enjoys whopping government subsidies through such measures as the Price Anderson Act (which relieves the industry of having to insure against the full costs of a nuclear accident) and the Department of Energy's obligation to find and pay for a permanent home for radioactuve waste which will remain deadly for thousands of years? Are these hidden costs accounted for in the industry's promotion of nuclear energy?"

-Nancy Burton

-Toni Fatone

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Politics isn’t boring.
Political Journalism shouldn’t be either.

This Week's Feature Newsmaker:
State Representative
Christopher G. Donovan
House Majority Leader

Serving Meriden's 84th Assembly District

Representative Christopher G. Donovan is serving his second term as Majority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives.  Representing the 84th Assembly District of Meriden, he was first elected to the Connecticut General Assembly in 1992 and served as House Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee from 1997-2003, before being elected Majority Leader in November of 2004.

Majority Leader Donovan has been a key sponsor of health care reform legislation and is currently working to create a system of universal health care that would provide health care coverage to everyone in the state.  Over the past two years as Majority Leader, Rep. Donovan led successful fights on campaign finance reform, stem cell research funding, and supplemental Medicare coverage, as well as expansions to the HUSKY program, minimum wage increases, school-based health clinics, school nutrition, and mass transit improvements including the establishment of the New Haven-Springfield commuter rail line.  

Majority Leader Donovan has been recognized for his efforts by numerous groups.  He received the Child Advocacy Legislative Leadership Award, was named Humanitarian of the Year, and was NASW's Legislator of the Year.  Rep. Donovan also received recognition for his support on legislation to create the Office of Multicultural Health and Capitol Community College recognized him as an honorary member of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society.

Most recently, The Connecticut State Council of Machinists presented Rep. Donovan with their Outstanding Commitment Award. He was also recognized as an important advocate for the deaf and hearing impaired, named Family Legislator of the Year and earned an MVP award for his clean elections efforts.  

Rep. Donovan is currently a member of the University Of Connecticut School of Social Work Advisory Committee. He is a former member of the Connecticut Family Leave Task Force.

Rep. Donovan earned his Bachelors Degree in Biology at Villanova University and his Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work.. He is a labor representative with the Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges and teaches part-time at the University of Hartford. Rep. Donovan formerly worked for the Connecticut Citizen's Action Group where he focused on environmental, energy and housing issues. He also worked for the Service Employees International Union on day care, family leave, and pay equity issues.

Chris, his wife Elaine Gallen Donovan, and his daughter Sarah live in Meriden.  Chris and Elaine have a grown son Aaron who resides in Medford, Massachusetts.

From: http://www.cga.ct.gov/hdo/084/bio084.html


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State Representative
Lawrence Cafero
House Minority Leader

Serving Norwalk’s 142nd Assembly District

First elected to serve the 142nd Assembly District in 1992, Larry Cafero is now serving his eighth term as State Representative for Norwalk.

Larry Cafero was chosen by his Republican colleagues to be the caucus Leader at the outset of the 2007 legislative session. He served previously as Deputy Leader for six terms. He continues to help set the legislative agenda and formulates Republican positions on pending legislation.

In addition to his leadership role in the House, Larry is a member of the General Assembly’s Appropriations, Judiciary, Legislative Management, and Labor and Public Employees Committees. He also represents the Connecticut General Assembly on the Labor and Workforce Development Committee of the National Council of State Legislatures.

A recognized leader in the field of education, Larry was appointed by Governor John G. Rowland to serve on the Educational Improvement Panel to develop legislative responses to the Sheff v. O’Neill school desegregation decision. Larry also served as the Ranking Republican House member of the Education Committee and as a member of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee.

In the 2006 Legislative session Larry has sponsored legislation to ensure refills for prescription narcotics do not fall into the wrong hands (HB 5681), a constitutional amendment ensuring adequate funding of the Teacher Retirement system (HJ 4), and to provide financial assistance to nursing students to help end the nursing shortage (HB 5200) among others.

As a member of the Judiciary Committee, Larry has authored legislation toughening the state’s drunk driving laws and stiffening the penalty against those who use ‘date-rape’ drugs to commit sexual assaults.

In addition to his leadership responsibilities at the State Capitol, Larry remains active on the local level, as an expulsion officer for the Norwalk Public School system, and a member of both the St. Ann’s Club and the Exchange Club. He is a former board member of the Side-by-Side Community Charter School and a former member and Chairman of the Norwalk Board of Education.

Larry is a graduate of Norwalk High School. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Connecticut and earned his J.D. from Western New England College School of Law. He is a partner with the law firm of Brown, Rudnick, of Hartford.

http://www.housegop.ct.gov/members/bios/caferobio.pdf


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For 6/8/2007

Christopher G. Donovan

Lawrence Cafero



Heard at the Capitol :
Revealing for the first time her experience as a rape victim. Heinrich backs a bill requiring all Connecticut hospitals to offer emergency contraception to rape victims admitted to their facilities.

"My body and soul were broken. Numbness prevented me from crying. Then slowly the most horrifying thought pressed through the fog. My God, what if I'm pregnant?"


- State Rep.
Deborah Heinrich
(D-Madison)
 

Criticizing House Speaker James Amann for soliciting charitable contributions from lobbyists, a practice Healy characterized as influence peddling by the powerful legislative leader.

"Jim Amann is ethically challenged and his 106 House Democratic colleagues should be embarassed. As Michael Dukakis said, 'the fish rots from the head'."
- State Republican Chairman Chris Healy

 

"Nobody acts on their own in this (Rell) administration or as a GOP chairman. You don't think the governor's office has control over the chairman of the party? This was purely political."

- Amann's response to Healy's claims.


 

Opposing a bill to allow legislative leaders to place projects for approval on the State Bond Commission agenda, a power now granted exclusively to the governor.

"If adopted, this bill would lead to more and more bonding, just as if you suddenly decided to give several members of your family new, no-limit credit cards."

- Gov. Jodi Rell