Lawmakers Open New Session

By Cara Rubinsky

HARTFORD — State lawmakers opened the 2007 legislative session Wednesday amid pressure to address burgeoning electricity rates, send more aid to municipalities to ease rising property taxes, and provide health coverage to the uninsured.

The Democrat-controlled legislature was sworn in Wednesday morning. The opening of the new session fell on the same day as Republican Governor  M. Jodi Rell’s inauguration.

Senate President Pro Tem Donald E. Williams Jr, D-Brooklyn, was reelected by his peers to lead the Senate. House members reelectd House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford.

The new lieutenant governor, Michael Fedele, was sworn in during a ceremony in the Senate. As lieutenant governor, he will preside over the chamber.

The Senate convened at about 10:15 am, and the House five minutes later.

Lawmakers said they expect 2007 will be a busy session. In addition to passing a new, two-year budget, Mr Williams said he hopes lawmakers will tackle the issue of providing health insurance coverage to the estimated 340,000 uninsured in Connecticut.

“They are one significant illness away from personal and financial disaster,” Mr Williams told those who packed the Senate chamber. “This session, we must work to reform our health care system and increase quality accessibility and affordability. Our families and our businesses are looking to us for real leadership on this issue.”

Mr Amann said he hopes to pass a package of reforms aimed at lowering energy prices and encouraging additional power generation in the state within the first 30 days of the session, which runs until June 6.

Last month, state regulators approved a phased-in, approximately 50 percent rate increase for United Illuminating Co., the state’s second-largest electric utility. Also in December, regulators allowed Connecticut Light and Power, the state’s largest electric utility, to raise rates by 7.7 percent starting January 1. That is on top of a 22 percent increase last year.

Lawmakers are expected to consider a range of ideas, including changing the way electric rates are set, encouraging new electric power generation, embarking on a statewide electricity conservation program, and allowing UI and Northeast Utilities — CL&P’s owner — to get back into the energy generation business.

But Mr Amann warned ratepayers not to expect any reforms to result in major and immediate reductions in their electric bills. He said the state needs a long-term plan to change Connecticut’s energy policy, and he is distressed by some proposals made by legislators to provide some small, short-term rate relief.

Other issues on tap for the new session include projected operating budget deficits, education funding reform, Medicaid spending, transportation, and gay marriage.

Lawmakers and Gov Rell must agree on a new, two-year budget. State Comptroller Nancy Wyman is estimating a $532.2 million surplus for the current fiscal year.