spazeboy

Update: I just received disappointing news from CT-N:

Thanks for your inquiry. Unfortunately, CT-N was not able to cover the Appropriations committee on 2/21. During the height of the legislative session, we frequently are faced with more events on any one day than we have the crew or resources to cover. Since we had just covered an Appropriations hearing on 2/16, we turned our attention on Wednesday to hearings of other committees that had not been covered as recently.

So…there will be no video of Spazeboy at the L.O.B. Sorry y’all.

So last night was my first experience testifying before a legislative committee. The Appropriations Committee held a public hearing last night on Governor Rell’s Higher Education Budget Recommendations, and I went with seven other Tunxis students to speak in favor of the CAPCS grants and additional funding for full-time faculty.

Here’s an excerpt from my written/spoken testimony:

I am delighted that Governor Rell has recommended a 12.8 million dollar increase in funds for the CAPCS program. As a recipient of CAPCS grants, I fully support this increase in funding. If not for the CAPCS grants, I might not be speaking in this room today. Not because the grants gave me the power of speech, but because they made it possible for me to switch from full time worker to full time student. They made it possible for me to focus on getting ahead instead of getting by. I know that the people of the great state of Connecticut have invested in me, and I intend for them to realize a return on that investment.

Of the eight of us from Tunxis who attended the hearing, three of us had signed up to testify. Rasheed, who is Vice President of the Tunxis Student Government, spoke eloquently (but nervously!) on behalf of Tunxis. Tinisha gave what was probably the most impassioned testimony of the evening, rousing all of the sleepy legislators.

When CT-N airs the hearing, I hope to post video of the “Tunxis Three” testimony.

Lastly, State Rep. Tim O’Brien has a report on my testimony from last night at his new blog:

Finally, the Appropriations Committee, which I am not a member of, has been holding hearings on Gov. Rell’s proposed budget. The public portions of the hearings are held in the evenings, and today’s hearing included funding for the state’s public colleges and universities. I mention this because a New Britain resident, known for his blog “spazeboy”, testified in support of funding for community colleges. He is a student at Tunxis Community College. He was very articulate and raised good points.

Two days ago, I wrote about Tim O’Brien’s bill proposal to give power to the people when it comes to filling a Senate vacancy. Right now, in the event of a U.S. Senate vacancy, Governor Rell gets to fill that vacancy with whomever she chooses.

So if Chris Dodd were to win the Presidency, Connecticut voters would have absolutely no say in who represents us for the duration of the term. For an example of why Connecticut voters might want a say, think back to 2000. What if Al Gore and Joe Lieberman had taken office as President and Vice President? Governor Rowland would probably have appointed Lieberman’s Republican opponent for U.S. Senate that year, Phil Giordano.

So listen to Tim O’Brien, one of the feared and respected State Representatives from New Britain, as he chats with Colin McEnroe from yesterday’s show:

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There are quite a few things happening in Connecticut this week, and I wouldn’t know about half of them if not for the My Left Nutmeg events calendar. Here are some of the things happening this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday:

• Wednesday January 17

  Blog Wars at La Paloma Sabenara - 7:30pm

  405 Capitol Avenue
  Hartford, CT 06106
  Tel 860.548.1670
  (on the corner of Babcock St & Capitol)

  
  

  Democratic State Central Committee Meeting - 7:30pm

  Election of State Central Committee Officers

  State Headquarters, 179 Allyn Street, Suite 301, Hartford

  AGENDA

  1) Roll Call
  2) Election of Officers
  3) Vice-Chairman’s Report
  4) Treasurer’s Report
  5) Old Business
  6) New Business
  7) Adjournment

Thursday January 18

New Britain DTC Meeting - 7:00pm

The Democratic Town Committee will discuss public education at its January meeting on Thursday, January 18th with Board of Education President Peter Kochol as guest speaker.

The discussion will focus on Learning Communities programs as a way to reduce overcrowding and improve student achievement at the middle schools and high school. The meeting will be held at New Britain City Hall’s room 504, 27 West Main Street beginning at 7 p.m.

Connecticut for Lieberman Party Meeting - 6:00pm

The new CFL party will hold its second (*) organizational meeting on Thursday, January 18, 2007!

The meeting will be held at the Howard Johnson’s “Harbor Room” (where the Blog Wars screening was held) in Milford off exit 39A on I-95. Stay right, just off the exit.

The meet and greet will run from 6:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. with the business meeting starting at 7 o’clock.

Friday January 19

Free Kenny - 6:00pm to 9:00pm ($25 Suggested Donation)

Who? You! And as many freedom loving friends as you can bring!
What? The Free Kenny Legal Defense Fund Bash, featuring beer, wine, hors d’oerves, music and free speech.
Where? La Paloma Sabanera, 405 Capitol Ave., Hartford
Why? Because lawyering up to defend free speech isn’t cheap.
When? Friday, Jan. 19 from 6 to 9 p.m.
How much? $25 suggested donation, or whatever you can give to help defray Ken Krayeske’s legal expenses, which arise from his arrest and detainment while photographing Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s inaugural parade Jan. 3. If you can’t attend, but still want to support the battle to protect civil liberties, click here for info on how to send a check.

Democratic State Representative (and live-blogger extraordinaire) Mike Lawlor appeared on Beyond the Headlines this morning with Ken Krayeske’s attorney Norm Pattis and AP reporter Sue Haigh. The video (h/t scarce):

Over at The 40 Year Plan, Krayeske has re-posted a CT Law Tribune piece by Norm Pattis:

They arrested [Ken Krayeske] because he is a person of interest to the Connecticut Intelligence Center. At a briefing before the parade, state police told Hartford officers about potential threats.

Krayeske a threat? To what, complacency?

Public outrage fanned quickly to flames over the notion that there are lists of enemies in law enforcement hands. Governor Jodi Rell called for an investigation; so did lawmakers; so did the mayor of Hartford. By week’s end, the Department of Public Safety was denying there are any such lists.

Lies, lies, lies.

Read the rest here.

Contribute to Krayeske’s Legal Defense Fund:

So, if you wish to promote liberty, protect freedom of speech and stop false arrests of journalists and/or political activists, please help me out. You can make out checks to “Law Offices of Norman A. Pattis,” and in the memo line write “Ken Krayeske Legal Defense Fund.” Send the checks to

Ken Krayeske Legal Defense Fund
c/o Law Offices of Norman Pattis
649 Amity Road
Bethany, CT 06524

I repeat that this is the one and only certified way to contribute to my legal defense at this point and time. Thank you all in advance for your assistance, and I am humbled by the amount of emotional support I have received to this point.

CTBlogger has more.

House Judiciary Chairman Mike Lawlor will be live-blogging over at My Left Nutmeg tonight around 7:30pm:

Rep. Mike Lawlor (D-East Haven) serves as Chairman of the House Judiciary Commitee. He’ll be here to live-blog with all of us at MyLeftNutmeg [tonight] at 7:30PM to discuss the status of the investigation into the “Big Sister” scandal and what the Democratic leadership in both the House and the Senate are doing to respond to Ken Krayeske’s arrest and 13 hours in lockup.

The press conference by Rep. Lawlor yesterday was incredibly powerful. I was so pleased to see Democrats like Lawlor (who was joined by Reps. Denise Merrill and Chris Caruso) treat this incident with the seriousness and gravity it deserves. Lawlor also had some very complimentary things to say about the CT blogging community and our growing power as citizen watchdogs.

Before you go blogging with Mike Lawlor tonight, make sure you watch the press conference that Maura wrote about, presented in the extended text in four parts. If you want to download an MP3 of the press conference, click here to download or just play it in your browser.

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Can’t listen in? You’re in luck because Greenpeas live-blogged it in the comments at My Left Nutmeg:

CM: earlier today press conf including Judiciary chmn Lawlor

ML: We wanted to make it clear it won’t be tolerated; harassing journalists and dissidents not accepted in CT… There will be followup - to her credit governor also asked for more info

CM: Asked for more info, but public questions — how long have state police been maintaining lists based on nothing but nonviolent polit. activiities?

ML: boyle says list state police employees were trawling internet sites; saw kk’s post asking if people wanted to protest outside ball, got his photo & gave information to htfd police. ken’s prev confrontation and old arrests for civil disobedience (Lawlor was once arrested as polit protest) - doesn’t make you a threat. Arrested for photoing gov and locked up 13 hours on 75K bond

CM: who decided bond and why? breach of peace? deliberately held till ball over? State facility ?

MikeCT chimes in with a thorough media round-up, the most interesting tidbit coming from WTNH:

State Police say there is no list, but police do share information. Lawmakers want that information shared with the public and they plan to hold hearings.

Video from yesterday’s presser is likely to surface on the internet later today. Come back.