GOVERNOR BUSTS A MOVE


SOME STATE WATCHDOG WORKERS GET TO KEEP THEIR JOBS

It was just a matter of time. Governor Rowland changes course and halts the firing of staff at the Ethics, Elections and Enforcement and Freedom of Information. Hartford Courant Capitol Chief Reporter Chris Keating wrote a good article: http://www.ctnow.com/news/local/hc-nolayoffs1001.artoct01,1,3206822.story?coll=hc-headlines-local This is the first major PR offensive since Dean Pagani assumed the Director of Communications position again. Despite the constant drum beat of ethical questions surrounding the administration, Rowland has always seemed most at ease with Dean around. As for the decision to allow the workers to stay....it's a small price to pay ($300,000 to hire back 4 workers) Rowland gets cover (temporarily) from critics who say he isn't doing anything to stomp out corruption in his administration. But the feds haven't finished its work! Stay tuned!
And for those they have never seen what a broadcast television script looks like, here is a copy of my Rowland Ethics story.

[TAKE PKG
> OUTCUE: ]
(TAKE PKG)
THIRTY YEARS AGO SID GARVAIS HELPED START CT'S COMMON CAUSE -- A
NON-PARTSIAN CLEAN GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION, RETIRED, HE STILL VOLUNTEERS
IN THE HARTFORD OFFICE.
> [TAKE SOT
> INCUE:
> OUTCUE:
> DURATION:0:00]
> [Notes:TC:]
(13:37I WANT TO SEE CLEAN GOVERNMENT,:39)
GARVAIS WHO STAYS BUSY TRACKING THE STATE'S CURRENT CORRUPTION CASES SAYS
THE STATE'S ONCE STERLING REPUTATION IS HURTING.
> [TAKE SOT
> INCUE: CONNECTICUT IS
> OUTCUE: ENFORCEMENT PROCESS
> AT: 14:21
> TO: 14:26
> DURATION:0:05]
> [Notes:TC:]
(14: 21CT IS LOSING THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE CUTTING BACK ON THE ENFORCEMENT
PROCESS :26 )
THOSE CUTBACKS, APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR, CUT MONEY AND
STAFF AT THE STATE'S "WATCHDOG" AGENCIES -- FREEDOM OF INFORMATION,
ELECTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT AND ETHICS-- CUTS THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DOESN'T UNDERSTAND.
> [TAKE SOT
> INCUE: ESPECIALLY THE
> OUTCUE: THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE
> AT: 8:25
> TO: 8:31
> DURATION:0:06]
> [Notes:TC:]
( .8:25Especailly the ethics commission it generates 5 million dollars to
the general fund...it was a cut that didn't make sense8:31)
SOME BELIEVE GOVERNOR ROWLAND TARGETED THESE AGENCIES BECAUSE HE HAD TO PAY
THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS TO SETTLE ETHICS AND ELECTIONS INVESTIGATIONS REGARDING VACATIONS
AT HOMES OWNED BY STATE CONTRACTORS AND USE OF A REPUBLICAN PARTY CREDIT
CARD. A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION IS ALSO LOOKING HOW THE ROWLAND
ADMINISTRATION AWARDED CONTRACTS.
TODAY ROWLAND SAID HIS LAYOFF REVERSAL IS NO BIG DEAL!
> [TAKE SOT
> INCUE: DID YOU FEEL
> OUTCUE: THING TO DO
> AT: 23:37
> TO: 23:43
> DURATION:0:06]
> [Notes:TC:]
(23:37 Did you feel any political pressure to do so because of some of the
things that have been going on in some of your agencies. no, it's just the
right thing to do 23:43.)
HE SAYS IN HINDSIGHT IT PROBABLY WASN'T RIGHT TO REDUCE THOSE AGENCIES
FUNDS.
> [TAKE SOT
> INCUE: WE SHOULD
> OUTCUE: TERMS OF FINANCING
> AT: 23:55
> TO: 23:58
> DURATION:0:03]
> [Notes:TC:]
(--SOT/: 23:55 We should not really try to pull their strings in terms of
financing 23:58 )
[TAKE SOT
> INCUE: BUT CRITICS
> OUTCUE: WATCHDOG AGENCIES
> AT: 30:18
> TO: 30:27
> DURATION:0:09]
> [Notes:TC:]
(standup: 30:18RStandup: But critics of Rowland say with so many ethical
controversy swirling around his administration he had little choice but to
restore the jobs at the watchdog agencies 30:27)
REPRESENTATIVE JIM AMANN SAYS POLITICALLY THE GOVERNOR HAD TO DO SOMETHING.
> [TAKE SOT
> INCUE: HE IS THE LEADER
> OUTCUE: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
> AT: 2:12
> TO: 2:19
> DURATION:0:07]
> [Notes:TC:]
(2:12He is the leader of this state, he needs i think to make these sort of
moves to stand up and say I'm not going to tolerate anymore, enough is
enough 2:19)
BUT THE BOXES ARE BEGINNING TO PILE UP. IN HARTFORD RICK HANCOCK FOX 61 NEWS
AT TEN

* The opinions expressed on Rick's Political Potpourri are not those of WTIC-TV/WTXX or Tribune Broadcasting

Posted: Wed - October 1, 2003 at 11:13 PM      

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