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Malloy courting GOP leaders as new governor's honeymoon continuesFeb 11, 2011 (Connecticut Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Like many relationships, theirs began with that initial meeting and phone calls followed by dinner. So far, those efforts by new Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and his senior staff to woo Republican leaders prior to next Wednesday's highly anticipated budget address are working. "It is respectful, it is proper, it is refreshing, it is healthy," House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, said, adding, "The man gave me his own cell phone (number)." In separate interviews Cafero and Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, praised the attentiveness the Malloy team has lavished on them since the former Stamford mayor's swearing-in Jan. 5. Both leaders met a couple of times individually with Malloy for broad discussions about his plans to attack the state's $3.4 billion deficit and create jobs in a struggling economy. They have also exchanged phone calls. "It's been a dialogue and it's very appreciated," McKinney said. "I get a sense he's always willing to engage in ideas." Cafero also recently dined with Malloy advisers Tim Bannon, Andrew McDonald and Roy Occhiogrosso at their invitation. McKinney is scheduling time to break bread with the trio after a date earlier this week was canceled. Asked if he was being treated better by the new Democratic administration than by just-retired Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell's office, Cafero said, "absolutely." Democrats control the General Assembly, but Occhiogrosso said Malloy wants bipartisan support for his first budget, expected to contain a mix of cost-cutting measures and tax increases. "The Republicans have said they're serious about wanting to help us govern," Occhiogrosso said. "We'll see if that's true soon enough." Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, who has also been communicating with Cafero and McKinney, said, "The only way I can get respect is by respecting them ... The people of this state are tired of fighting and bickering." The state's last two budgets were passed along party lines, and 2009 saw a particularly bitter budget battle. James Finley, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities executive director, said he believes Malloy's team genuinely wants to end partisanship. Finley will be "shocked" if some GOP lawmakers do not embrace Malloy's final fiscal package. Former House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, said Malloy may need GOP aid. "If he does the budget some people anticipate, it will be difficult for many on the fringes on both sides to support," Amann said. "So then that leaves the middle." A Republican stamp of approval would also help Malloy's standing with the business sector. "The reality is the Republicans aren't going to support something that isn't going to be generally acceptable to the business community," said MetroHartford Alliance President Oz Griebel, an ex-Republican gubernatorial candidate. Malloy has been previewing his approach by outlining agency mergers and talking tough about union concessions. Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, a former Democratic state senator, said those are all GOP priorities. "They have to learn how to take 'yes' for an answer," Finch said. "You have to be more jaded than these times will allow for to think this isn't going to help," Finch said. Staff Writer Brian Lockhart can be reached at [email protected] To see more of the Connecticut Post, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.connpost.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, Connecticut Post, Bridgeport Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. |