I was reading some of my recent blog posts, and I realized that I've been overly serious lately.
Apparently I've been ignoring the lighter side of political blogging. I really need to just kick back and have some fun for a change.
So, I'm going to go sailing for a week.
Actually, I was planning this for months. But it sounds better if I pretend that I've made a spur-of-the-moment decision to take a vacation.
See? I'm acting sillier already!
I'm leaving the blog in the capable hands of Kirby, who has agreed to come out of semi-blogging-retirement to post some stuff here, and at the same time she'll raise the collective IQ of the blog several fold. I'm very much looking forward to reading her posts when I get back.
And here's some more fun; a bit of silliness from our favorite pseudo-conservative, before he became a late-night fixture on Comedy Central. "The King of Glory":
See y'all in about a week or so!
2 comments:
Woo hoo! Kirby's back!
We'll miss you, Bob. Hope you and Joyce have a great time sailing. But I hope your respite is the impetus that gets our Kirby back to blogging regularly!
nbblogger says: My comment is awaiting moderation.
The Legislative RAT….
It’s called a “legislative rat.” Loosely defined it’s language that sneaks into what would otherwise be a benign bill, and tweaks it, usually for the benefit of a corporation or an individual or a New Britain Fireman …maybe some Mayor south of Hartford. CT,
The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters claims a “legislative rat” showed up in this bill to protect public and private water supplies. The bill awaiting Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s signature will allow Tilcon to mine protected New Britain Water Company land in Plainville CT.
Rep. John Geragosian, D-New Britain, said legislators from New Britain, Southington, and Plainville learned about the language of the “rat” during the last few days of the legislative session and did everything they could to include as many safeguards as possible in the bill.
“We said we weren’t happy with the process,” Geragosian said….
Neither were environmental advocates….
“Permitting development on class I water company lands is a tragic abuse of Connecticut’s exceptional water company land protections,” Julie Belaga, co-chair of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters said in her Press Release.
Specifically the bill allows the three towns to lease 131 acres of land to Tilcon for a period of 40 years. Tilcon will pay the towns to lease the land.,,,and City of New Britain will get about $15 million dollars.
While local legislators weren’t happy with the process, Geragosian said they were successful in getting several safeguards into the bill. For example, the legislation requires an environmental evaluation to assess the potential impact on the “purity and adequacy of the existing and future public water supply.”
The environmental evaluation will include a public comment period and require review by New Britain’s Mayor Tim Stewart and City Council.
“After such public hearing said Mayor Stewart shall recommend to the Common Council of said city approval or disapproval of the lease and contract,” the bill states. In addition, after the 40 year lease the land reverts back to the towns, Geragosian said.
But environmental advocates were still concerned about the precedent the bill sets.
“The bill not only promotes mining in watershed lands, it condones land conveyance with a no-bid contract, and all of this was introduced covertly in the last hours of the legislative session in an apparent attempt to avoid public scrutiny and public debate,” Margaret Miner, Executive Director of Rivers Alliance of the state of Connecticut, said.
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