Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Scenes from the Capitol: Bat removed, lawyers remain in pre-dawn session

  • by Mark Pazniokas
  • May 5, 2010
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

At 2:55 a.m. today, a bat made its entrance in the House of Representatives, circling the ornate, high-ceilinged chamber to the amusement and discomfort of legislators.

And then things got weird.

House Republicans bitterly objected to the prospect of beginning a debate on a major energy bill at 2:55 a.m., a debate delayed by a just-concluded, seven-hour GOP filibuster of an education bill.

Knowing that they faced an adjournment deadline of midnight tonight, Democrats insisted on going forward. Rep. Vickie O. Nardello, D-Prospect, the co-chair of the Energy and Technology Committee prepared to explain the bill.

House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero, R-Norwalk, stood and made a motion to adjourn, a prerogative that belongs to the House majority leader, Denise W. Merrill, D-Mansfield.

Tercyak and the bat

Rep. Peter Tercyak traps the bat (Mark Pazniokas)

The bat swooped low.

“It’s a sign,” someone shouted.

Legislators laughed.

Cafero did not.

He asked for a roll call vote.

On a vote of 102 to 38, the motion failed. Two Democrats, Shawn Johnston of Thompson and Deputy Speaker Marie Kirkley-Bey of Hartford, voted with the GOP to call it a day.

Nardello again prepared to begin debate, but Johnston interrupted and announced he was recusing himself over a potential conflict of interest. He is a meter reader for CL&P.

Smiling, he exited the chamber. Other legislators theatrically waved their hands, beckoning for recognition to announce their own conflicts, real or imagined.

House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, ignored them.

The bat made another circle. All eyes looked up. Nardello stood with a microphone, but she could not be heard over the excited chatter.

Donovan banged the gavel.

“Can we please have order in the chamber?” Donovan asked. “I know it’s late.”

Pause.

“And there’s a bat flying around.”

A fight at 3 a.m.

Cafero, center, awaits a ruling. (Pazniokas)

 

Again, Nardello prepared to begin debate, following the script followed to introduce every bill: She asked for permission to summarize the bill.

“Mr. Speaker, I object to summarization,” Cafero said.

Translation: Fine, if you want to debate this bill in the wee, small hours of the morning, then we’ll begin with the House clerk reading the entire thing aloud.

Merrill moved that the House suspend its rules.

Translation: Oh, yeah?

“Point of order. I ask the gentlewoman to cite the rule to which she is referring,” Cafero said.

Translation: You’re bluffing.

“Oh, this is bad,” Rep. Cameron C. Staples, D-New Haven, said under his breath.

Gary Coleman, the clerk who would have to read the bill, stripped off his bow tie, leaned back in his chair and stretched like an athlete about to begin a marathon.

Everyone reached for their rule books. Lawyers materialized.

Checking the rules

Donovan, Deputy Speaker Buddy Altobello check the rules. (Pazniokas)

The bat made another circuit, this time making a loop through the House gallery, where a maintenance worker stood ready with a net, presumably for the bat.

After another loop, dodging a wild swing of the net, the bat gave up, dropping like a stone behind your correspondent, just to the right of the speaker’s rostrum.

“Is it alive?” yelled Rep. Toni E. Walker, D-New Haven.

It was. It quickly attached itself to the wall, wings folded.

Rep. Peter Tercyak, D-New Britain, charged with a blue recycling bin, trapping the bat. A member of the maintenance staff knelt beside him, speaking low into a radio. The police arrived.

“Step back,” an officer ordered.

The bat was taken away.

The lawyers remained.

Donovan told the chamber that the House could override Cafero’s objections to summarization by a two-thirds vote.

At 3:36 a.m., Cafero withdrew his objection.

Donovan exhaled and said, “Thank you everybody.”


Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Pazniokas

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
It’s time to standardize arts grants in Connecticut
by Mandi Jackson and Daniel Fitzmaurice

What all arts organizations need most right now is multi-year, unrestricted general operating support with simplified, fair processes for accountability. This would allow the arts community to better respond to the needs of Connecticut residents instead of the political process, lobbyists, or wealthy donors.

Accessory dwelling units are a good thing
by Toni Gold

Connecticut’s large, old houses are a resource that any town should treasure — not just for their charm and historical value, but because of their potential for adaptation. One tool that can help ensure the viability of these structures is zoning, and particularly zoning for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). There’s a movement to  legalize ADUs statewide. It’s a good idea whose time has come.

New Haven and Yale: Giamatti and DiLieto:  A historic moment? Or a model? 
by Neil Thomas Proto

The City of New Haven’s effort today to seek an increase in financial contribution from Yale is more historically justified than is often recognized.

As seniors complain of trouble scheduling COVID vaccines, Connecticut beefs up its appointment phone line
by Jenna Carlesso

Gov. Lamont praised Connecticut's efforts to vaccinate seniors but wasn't as eager to discuss problems with the state's appointment system.

Lamont to extend COVID emergency until April 20
by Mark Pazniokas

Unless a committee of 10 lawmakers votes to reject the declaration, it will take effect within 72 hours of signing.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion It’s time to standardize arts grants in Connecticut
by Mandi Jackson and Daniel Fitzmaurice

What all arts organizations need most right now is multi-year, unrestricted general operating support with simplified, fair processes for accountability. This would allow the arts community to better respond to the needs of Connecticut residents instead of the political process, lobbyists, or wealthy donors.

Opinion Accessory dwelling units are a good thing
by Toni Gold

Connecticut’s large, old houses are a resource that any town should treasure — not just for their charm and historical value, but because of their potential for adaptation. One tool that can help ensure the viability of these structures is zoning, and particularly zoning for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). There’s a movement to  legalize ADUs statewide. It’s a good idea whose time has come.

Opinion New Haven and Yale: Giamatti and DiLieto:  A historic moment? Or a model? 
by Neil Thomas Proto

The City of New Haven’s effort today to seek an increase in financial contribution from Yale is more historically justified than is often recognized.

Opinion A call to save arms: is vaccination really the solution?
by Genevieve Diamant

Economic modelling done by professional statisticians is often used to claim that the ounce of prevention provided by a vaccine is much better than the pound of cure that well-funded hospitals, fully staffed with professional nurses and doctors, using effective pharmaceutical remedies, can provide. But is this actually true?

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO