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May 1, 2008
Newby Ambush Thinks Inside The Circle, Leads To The Lesson of Rule 2313
Thursday May Day, 2008
Wet-behind-the-ears Sen. Rob Russo, R-Bridgeport, the newest member of The Circle, over-reached last night as he sat next to Sen. Ed Gomes, D-Bridgeport. Russo learned the hard way that even when you're right, you can be wrong.
Russo, elected a couple minutes back in that special election to fill the vacancy left when Bill Finch decided to focus on being mayor of Bridgeport (how's THAT workin' out?), offered an amendment that would ban members of the City Council from having city jobs.
It seems like a good idea, although if it went through, there would probably be sharply reduced interest in serving on the council. Anyway, there's a Bridgeport ordinance banning city employees from the Council, but that's superceded by state law that allows it.
"No matter how you see it, it's a conflict of interest," Russo said, standing next to the seated Gomes. It would have amended state law to allow towns and cities to decide for themselves.
"This is the same body that receives hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding," Russo argued in that (Rep.) Chris Caruso kind of self-righteous way that provokes instant opposition in a certain wide strata of Capitol lawmaker.
"I believe it should be handled locally by the municipalities," Gomes responded, begging the question.
Sen. Dan Debicella, R-Shelton, probably didn't help Russo by standing up and weighing in.
Gomes got grumpy and Rule 2313 was invoked. The roll call vote, crushing Russo's amendment, was 23-13, with all Democrats voting against all the Republicans.
It was at this moment that Blog-o-rama realized why the Senate is less interesting than the House. Since they're in that circle, they can only see each other. They should think outside their circumference more often.
Posted by Ken on May 1, 2008 11:26 AM
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