Historic Day For Legislature As Seven Vetoes Are Overridden (CT legislature vs. Rell)

Courant.com ^ | July 21, 2009 | By CHRISTOPHER KEATING

[raybbr]

In a historic day at the state Capitol, the Democratic-controlled legislature overrode seven vetoes by Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell and took the first step toward establishing universal health care coverage in Connecticut.

The number of overrides tied the seven made in 1992 during the administration of Gov. Lowell P. Weicker — the most since Republican Gov. Thomas Meskill was overridden nine times in 1974. .

But Rell won a victory in the most dramatic moment of the day as the controversial health care "pooling" bill failed by one vote in the state Senate when Democratic Sen. Joan Hartley of Waterbury — whose support was key to an override — was absent for the vote. The bill had overwhelming support in the House, along with 23 of the 24 Senate Democrats. A two-thirds majority is needed in both chambers — 101 votes in the House and 24 in the Senate — to override a veto.

"I wasn't aware that she was leaving the chamber," said Senate President Pro Tem Donald Williams, the highest-ranking senator. "She was not a fan of this bill. If she had been in the chamber and voted against it, it would not have been a surprise." Hartley could not be reached for comment.

While Democrats viewed the seven overrides as a bad day for Rell, the Republicans countered that they expected more overrides because the Democrats hold a two-thirds majority in both chambers. The seven overrides more than doubled the cumulative total of three during Rell's first five years as governor.

The most prominent veto overridden Monday allows a nine-member board to craft the outlines for the SustiNet universal health care system.

[dancusa]

Just wait, in a few years when they elect Susan Bysiewicz governor. You will have to wait a year in line to get a moving van to leave the state.