Lawmakers May Be Back Later This Month

While the special session was still in progress there were discussions Wednesday about returning to the Capitol again for a veto session on June 23.

The Democratic majority was counting heads to see if they have enough votes to override Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s veto of the minimum wage bill that increases the minimum wage from $7.65 to $8 in 2009 and $8 to $8.25 in 2010. Rell vetoed the bill at the end of May.

Speaker of the House James Amann, D-Milford, said a veto session is a possibility, but “we’re not going to waste any time if the votes aren’t there.” The bill passed the House 106 to 45, mostly along party lines. Four Democrats crossed party lines to vote against the increase, while three Republicans crossed party lines to vote in favor of it.

In the Senate the bill passed 25 to 11 with two Republican Senators crossing over to vote in favor of it. Sen. Sam Caligiuri, R- Waterbury, and Sen. Anthony Guglielmo, R-Stafford Springs, both voted in favor of it during the original vote, but only one of them would need to maintain their vote in order to override the governor’s veto.

Senate President Donald Williams, D-Brooklyn, said a veto session may be held on June 23. He said he’s optimistic, but isn’t making any promises.