Democrats Refuse To Override Any Of Malloy’s Vetoes; GOP Looking For Override On Oxford Airport Development Zone [Courant Capitol Watch]

Gov. Malloy, why should we wait months to pass a pro-jobs bill when we can pass it in a matter of days? Read more here:

By Christopher Keating on July 21, 2011 4:55 PM

SOUTH WINDSOR – With a 145-1 vote in the House and 36-0 in the Senate, many would think the legislature would override Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s veto for economic development at Oxford Airport.

But it won’t happen. Republicans in the areas surrounding Oxford and Waterbury are seeking an override, but the Democrats who control the legislature have the votes to block any attempts at an override.

Malloy said Thursday that he agrees with the Democrats.

Malloy questioned whether the bill was necessary, noting that the state this year created the Connecticut Airport Authority to operate not only Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks but also five other airports that include Oxford.

“We took a historic step in creating an airport authority,” Malloy told reporters Thursday after the opening of the new TicketNetwork headquarters in South Windsor. “I met with a bunch of people down in Oxford yesterday. I said, ‘Tell me one economic development effort that you need us to intervene on today that would otherwise have been covered by this [bill]. There are none. Zero. Zip. Nada.”

When asked whether the Oxford airport issue would come up again during a planned special session on jobs in the fall, Malloy said, “I’m not going to pre-judge it. We really need to take a unified approach from this point on. … I’m not making a commitment to doing it this session, next session, special session. I’m making a commitment to hear everyone’s voice.”

But four Republicans, led by Sen. Robert J. Kane of Watertown, recently wrote a letter to the Democratic leaders of the legislature to seek an override at a session scheduled for July 25. That request was rejected. The legislature would need a two-thirds vote in both chambers to override a veto, and the Democrats hold strong majorities in both chambers.

“Why should we wait months to pass a pro-jobs bill when we can pass it in a matter of days?” Kane asked. “Just last week, Governor Malloy approved a $50 million incentive bill for a single company, CIGNA. The Oxford Airport bill’s pricetag is just $75,000, and it will benefit any number of companies that want to take advantage of it.”
Overall, Malloy vetoed six bills from this year’s session and signed 266. Under the state constitution, a veto session must be called, but the legislature is not required to take any action on the bills.