Senate Leadership
October 11, 2006
Williams Launches Truth Squad to Rebut Claims by Governor Rell in 1st Gubernatorial Debate
Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) has issued what he calls a "Truth Squad" rebuttal to some of the inaccurate and misleading statements Governor Rell made in the first gubernatorial debate, which was held Monday evening in New London. Senator Williams said Rell improperly took credit for stem cell research, transportation improvements, ethics, contracting reform, campaigning financing, and farmland preservation. Senator Williams issued this statement.
"Contracting reform--The governor took credit for contracting reform, when in fact the legislature proposed it, passed it three times, and she vetoed it three times.
Transportation--The governor took credit for a $2.5 billion dollar transportation plan, but her proposal was only $600 million. It was the legislature that provided a $2.5 billion package to improve Connecticut's transportation system.
Stem cell research--The governor took credit for the legislative initiative for stem cell research. She had proposed $10 million dollars, but the legislature passed $100 million in funding.
Farmland preservation--The governor took credit for farmland preservation, but the legislature proposed and enacted the Community Investment Act and by the way, there is still $15 million for farmland preservation that the governor has not released.
The economy--The governor took credit for job growth. The fact is the state is 45th in the nation in job growth, and it was the Democratic legislature that passed the Jobs for the 21st Century Act.
Campaign finance reform--The governor claims credit for campaign finance reform, and said she brought the legislators along "kicking and screaming," but in fact it was the governor who was brought along kicking and screaming to the public financing bill, which she did not endorse until the last week of a long session, and when the final vote was taken the governor brought along very few Republican votes. Only four Republicans in the Senate and four in the House voted in favor of the measure."
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