New England Public Radio

With A Week Left In Session, Conn. Lawmakers Tackle Casino, Budget

As the Connecticut legislative session heads into its final week, Democratic leaders from the legislature and the governor’s office are meeting behind closed doors to finalize a budget. Republican leaders are upset that they were left out of those negotiations. But Hartford Courant Capitol Bureau Chief Chris Keating says one recourse for Republicans is to filibuster smaller bills.

“Generally as you get down to the end of the session, very often the Republican power actually increases, because on each bill, they could stand up and ask thirty-five questions and make a ten minute debate turn into a five hour debate,” Keating says.

The legislature is supposed to adjourn at midnight on June 3rd. Governor Dannel Malloy has said lawmakers could go into a special session if a budget agreement isn’t reached.

To hear Henry Epp’s full conversation with Hartford Courant reporter Chris Keating, click on the audio player above.

Charlie Baker Takes Office Today After Eight Years Of Deval Patrick

It’s inauguration day in Massachusetts. Republican Charlie Baker will be sworn in as the state’s next governor at noon today. He succeeds Democrat Deval Patrick, who’s held the office for the last eight years. Our Statehouse reporter Sarah Birnbaum is covering the transition of power at the state’s corner office. She walks us through the schedule for baker’s inauguration.

To hear the conversation with Sarah Birnbaum, click on the audio player above.

As His Second Term Starts, Malloy Eyes Transportation, Faces Deficit

All six New England states inaugurate their governors this week. Today, it’s Connecticut’s turn as Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy is sworn in for a second term. Meanwhile, the state faces a deficit, and a former governor is set to be sentenced on election fraud charges. For more, I spoke with Christopher Keating, state capitol bureau chief for the Harford Courant. He says there’s plenty of fanfare on tap for Malloy’s inauguration.

To hear my conversation with Christopher Keating, click on the audio player above.

Democrat Rosenberg Looks Forward To Working With Baker

Massachusetts Governor-Elect Charlie Baker will put the state’s corner office in Republican hands when he takes office in January. That will follow eight years of Democratic control of the governorship under Deval Patrick. But incoming Senate President Stan Rosenberg, an Amherst Democrat, says he looks forward to working with Baker. He says the two previously worked together when Governor Bill Weld was in office.

“Charlie Baker during that period was Secretary of Administration and Finance, and as Chair of Ways and Means, I had to work very closely with him, and we got along great, so I’m not at all concerned,” says Rosenberg.

Rosenberg says he would have loved to work with Democrat Martha Coakley, who he backed in the election for governor.

To hear a conversation with Senator Stan Rosenberg, click on the audio player above.

Anthony Gulluni Wins Race For Hampden County DA

Anthony Gulluni will be the next District Attorney in Hampden County. He won the four-way Democratic primary last night, and faces no Republicans or Independents in November.

After results showed him holding a wide and steady lead over his three opponents, Gulluni walked into a packed room of supporters at Samuel’s bar at the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Gulluni said he was excited, and “I’m just so happy and thankful to the voters first and foremost, and the people who helped me, and my family and friends. It’s an incredible feeling, very gratifying.”

Gulluni beat out 3 opponents in the race, with 45 percent of the vote. Brett Vottero was the closest runner up, with 28 percent. Vottero says he was disappointed with the low turnout in the race.

“The district attorney has a profound impact on the economic vitality of the city,” said Vottero. “Addressing crime is the first step towards bringing out economic vitality back. So to me, this race should have received a lot more attention from the media, from the business community, from the citizens.”

Vottero, who also lost the 2010 Democratic primary for DA, was clearly sad about the loss, but went with another candidate, Shawn Allyn, to Gulluni’s party to congratulate the winner.

According to the Springfield Republican newspaper, Anthony Gulluni will the youngest ever Hampden DA, at 33 years old. But he’s not exactly an outsider. He’s been an assistant DA for nearly six years, he was endorsed by former Hampden DA Bill Bennett, and in a speech to supporters, Gulluni profusely thanked a top aide to Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Jim Leydon, who he called an adviser.

With the race over, Gulluni says his next step is to get some rest. After that?

“We’ll start thinking about getting things organized, and carrying out the job the voters have given us, and carrying out our campaign promises,” Gulluni said.

Gulluni will officially take office in January. He replaces interim D-A James Orenstein, who’s been running the office since former district attorney Mark Mastroianni was confirmed as a federal judge in June.

Winner of Hampden DA Race Faces A Hefty Caseload

Democratic voters in Hampden County will choose the area’s next district attorney in Tuesday’s primary, and the winner will face big challenges once in office.

MORE: New England Public Radio’s primary election voter guide

There’s been no public polling for the Hampden DA race, so it’s difficult to know who’s ahead. Shawn Allyn, Hal Etkin, Anthony Gulluni, and Brett Vottero all have a variety of legal experience, but none have held elected office. All are lawyers, and all but Allyn have worked for the Hampden DA in the past.

Current District Attorney James Orenstein says the winner will have to focus on hiring and retaining qualified prosecutors, particularly for homicides.

“We have, presently pending, approximately twenty homicide cases that are scheduled [for trial] sometime between now and the end of next year,” says Orenstein. “We have a number of unsolved homicide cases, including cold cases that we continue to work on.”

Orenstein is not running for the post, and neither are any Republicans or Independents, so the winner of the Democratic Primary will be the next DA.