CAPITOL WATCH

DeLuca Says Thanks -- May Seek Re-Election in 2008

Senator Louis DeLuca is saying nothing but thanks to his constituents for their support.

The former Senate GOP leader has been under fire since pleading guilty on June 1 to conspiring to threaten his grandson-in-law, and he is facing a bipartisan committee that could recommend his reprimand, censure or expulsion from the Senate.

In his 2007 legislative report that is being mailed to his constituents, DeLuca has penned a "Dear Neighbor'' letter that ends by stating, "Finally, I simply want to say thank you. As you may know, I resigned my position as Senate Republican leader in July as my family and I coped with a difficult and deeply personal issue. I want you to know how much I appreciate the overwhelming showing of support the 32nd District has given me and my family during this difficult time.''

He continued, "Please know how deeply grateful I am for the opportunity to serve you and your neighbors. As always, I encourage you to contact me directly with any and all questions or comments.''

Two "proven leaders'' get new jobs from Rell

Two longtime veterans of state government - James Fleming and Raeanne V. Curtis - received new jobs Friday from Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell.

Fleming, the former Senate majority leader from Simsbury who most recently served as public works commissioner, was named as a commissioner of the Department of Public Utility Control. Curtis was chosen as his replacement at DPW.

Rell described her appointees as "proven leaders with tremendous knowledge and experience'' in state government. Fleming's career dates back to his election to the state House of Representatives in 1980, and he served in the second-floor chamber when Rell was a young representative and M. Lisa Moody was serving on the House GOP staff. Fleming was later elected to the Senate in 1990 and served there until 1999 - when he was appointed commissioner of consumer protection by then-Gov. John G. Rowland.

Amann announces state grant for organ donations

House Speaker James Amann, a major proponent of organ donations, was surrounded by donors and their families Thursday as he announced that a non-profit group would receive $100,000 in a state grant to encourage more donations.

"No one should die waiting for their gift of life, but the sad story is that people die every day in this country waiting for an organ,'' said Amann, a cancer survivor.

Amann was joined at the outdoor event by his wife, Terri, who received a kidney from her brother nearly three years ago. Rep. George M. Wilber of Colebrook, who was standing nearby, is also waiting for a kidney, but Amann announced that "George is doing well.''

In bipartisan fashion, Amann praised former state House Republican leader Robert Ward, who is now the state's motor vehicles commissioner, for doing "an extremely great job for us'' in promoting donations.

---Christopher Keating

You're asking the FBI for what?

Capitol insiders are highly skeptical that the FBI will be giving anything to the special Senate committee that is investigating whether to censure, reprimand or expel Sen. Louis DeLuca after the Woodbury Republican pleaded guilty to conspiring to threaten his grandson-in-law.

The six-member, bipartisan committee is asking the FBI for all relevant information on DeLuca's criminal case, including audiotapes or a transcript of a secret meeting between DeLuca and an undercover FBI agent who offered him a $5,000 cash bribe. DeLuca turned down the cash.

When the special House impeachment committee asked the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office for similar help in 2004 during the inquiry into then-Gov. John G. Rowland, they were turned away with no help at all, according to attorney Steven Reich, the lead counsel in that probe. Many people at the Capitol think the answer will be the same this time.

Some view the request as "a real longshot.'' Upon learning of the committee's request for audiotapes, a knowledgeable law enforcement insider burst out laughing.

An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment Wednesday.

Can Firefighters Light a Fire for Dodd?

     The International Association of Fire Fighters will formally endorse Chris Dodd for president Wednesday morning in Washington, the Dodd campaign said today.

     After the announcement, Harold Schaitberger, the union's general president, is scheduled to immediately leave with Dodd on a three-day tour of Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire.

     The IAFF backed John Kerry for president in 2004. Less popular in the blogosphere was their endorsement last year of Sen. Joe Lieberman in his difficult re-election race.

     Once they jumped in, they were a constant presence for Lieberman.

     -- Mark Pazniokas

Lieberman Appreciative of Gonzales, Dodd Not So Much

     Sen. Joseph Lieberman issued a statement today saying that the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales removes a "distraction from the important work of the Department of Justice," but he offered a pat on the back as Gonzales ends his rocky tenure.

     "As he leaves public service, Attorney General Gonzales deserves our appreciation for his work for our nation," Lieberman said.

     Sen. Christopher Dodd had a different take, saying Justice under Gonzales became a political arm of the Bush White House and "his resignation is long overdue."

     -- Mark Pazniokas

Must-Watch TV in Bridgeport

     Bridgeport often gets accused of being dominated by old-school, machine politics. But it is embracing the You Tube generation.

     The Fairfield County Weekly and the political blog, My Left Nutmeg, are sponsoring a Democratic mayoral debate that will feature questions submitted on the internet video site, You Tube.

     Democrats Chris Caruso and Bill Finch will field those questions Sept. 6.

     -- Mark Pazniokas

Fiasco, The Hurricane Edition

     "The Great Deluge" is out in paperback just in time for the peak of the hurricane season -- and the 2nd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The book is Douglas Brinkley's seething account of the horrors wrought on New Orleans by the fury of Katrina and the incompetence of local, state and federal government.

     After reading the book on vacation, I was struck that Michael Brown, the hapless FEMA administrator with the inflated resume, was not the biggest villain of this account by Brinkley, a New Orleans resident and Tulane historian. That distinction goes to Michael Chertoff. Yes, Brown and his agency stumbled horribly, but at least he ultimately grasped the suffering. Chertoff, his superior at Homeland Security, is portrayed as cold and indifferent after the levees breached and New Orleans began to drown.

     Just as Brown appears human next to Chertoff, Gov. Kathleen Blanco appears diligent next to Mayor Ray Nagin. Brinkley describes Nagin as cowering in a hotel during the storm and its aftermath, afraid to speak to residents trapped at the Superdome, fearing he might be killed. Blanco is portrayed as over her head, but unafraid. She visited the Superdome and waded into the crowd, telling them she understood their desperation.

     The heroes of the tale are the Coast Guard, Louisiana fish and wild life agents and a colorful cast of civilians -- clergy, rappers, business owners, community activits, journalists and others -- who ignored authorities and saved thousands with an ad hoc rescue effort.

     -- Mark Pazniokas

CCAG Wants Eddie Perez Out

     Tom Swan, executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, takes a swipe in an op ed piece today at Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez, whose re-election campaign has been forced to explain how a city contractor ended up doing a bathroom project at the mayor's home.

     Thanks to the misdeeds of former Gov. John G. Rowland and former Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim, who each opted for freebies over trips to Home Depot, home improvements have become dangerous territory for the political set.

     Swan thinks he sees a fix in this fixer-up. He asks Perez to step down.

     One historical note: Swan had a run-in last year with Perez. Hizzoner dropped by an early  Ned Lamont event at a Hartford coffee house and told Lamont that his opposition of Joe Lieberman was unwelcome. That episode no doubt helped Swan overcome any reluctance to take on Perez.

     -- Mark Pazniokas

Colella Yearning to Testify Against DeLuca - Then Debate Him

Mark Colella is angry.

The grandson-in-law of former Senate Republican leader Louis DeLuca feels he has been wronged in the ongoing DeLuca saga after suspicions were raised that Colella was abusing his wife, Casey Reilly - DeLuca's granddaughter.

Now, Colella wants to testify against DeLuca in front of a bipartisan committee that will decide whether to censure, reprimand or expel DeLuca after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to threaten Colella. Known for his outspoken statements, Colella wants to travel to the state Capitol to tell his side of the story.

"I'll go up there and put on a show,'' Colella said in a telephone interview from his hometown of Waterbury. "I'm a citizen. I'm tired of this. ... I feel I should be allowed to talk.''

Besides testifying, he wants to debate DeLuca on the Senate floor about whether Colella ever abused his wife, which Colella strongly denies.

"I'm a high school graduate, and he has a college degree and has been a senator for 17 years. He can't beat me in a debate?'' Colella asked. "Put the cameras on, and let's go. Let's see who the liar is. My wife worked five days a week at Spartan's [restaurant in Waterbury]. She worked in the public. She was never in there with black eyes and bruises.''