Mikutel rebuffs Malloy agenda

Rep. Steve Mikutel, whose 45th Assembly District consists of Griswold, Lisbon, Plainfield and Voluntown, didn't expect any slaps on the back from those in Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration at the close of the legislative session. Though both the governor and Mikutel share the same Democrat Party affiliation, the veteran lawmaker opposed much of the governor's policy agenda.

Mikutel voted against the budget, objected to the tax package, criticized the labor deal, opposed both the law that will decriminalize small amounts of marijuana and changes that will allow earlier release of prisoners who demonstrate good behavior and get involved in prison programs.

This Democrat harkens back to a time when Gov. William A. O'Neill and like-minded moderates in the legislature dominated the party. He bristles at the suggestion that because he will not support certain legislation, such as providing greater protection against discrimination for transgendered individuals, he is a closet Republican.

"I'm a populist at heart," said Mikutel when we sat down for a recent interview. "I'm for the working person. I just think sometimes we, as a party, have lost touch with what's really important to the people who are out there working hard every day for a living."

To prove his populist credentials he points to his support for the sick-leave law mandating that service businesses with 50 or more employees, such as restaurants and health care providers, provide up to five days of paid sick leave to workers. Republicans were almost unanimous in their opposition out of concern for hurting businesses.

"These are people, the waiters and waitresses, who live off the crumbs of the rich. They deserve a couple of days off, with pay, if they get sick. That's not going to break any business that size," he said.

What he does fear could break some of the families in his blue-collar district are the substantial tax increases approved in the $41 billion, two-year budget.

"We heard during the campaign that tax increases would be a last resort, instead we got them right out of the box," Mikutel said.

Perhaps most frustrating, he said, was the decision, after the governor came up $400 million short of his $2 billion target in labor concessions, to take the money from a projected surplus rather than make additional cuts.

"Once again we took the easy way out. The tough call would have been to cut into the spending. It would have demonstrated to everyone that we were serious about putting our fiscal house in order. We need fiscal stability to satisfy the business community that we won't be back for more taxes or new fees. But I don't know that we got that. I don't think business thinks we got that," said Mikutel.

Fearing that his comments were sounding too anti-Malloy, Mikutel added, "Don't get me wrong, he's a real leader, he pushed his agenda, you've got to hand it to him." The economy may begin to rebound and the state fiscal outlook stabilize, he said, adding, "I hope it does. If it does he'll be in great shape politically. But if not …"

Butting heads with party leaders in the legislature did not just happen with the arrival of Malloy. During the administration of Republican M. Jodi Rell, Mikutel often found himself disagreeing with those in his party, particularly on fiscal issues. It helps explain why, despite election to 10 straight terms, he has no committee chairmanship.

"The trade-off is not good enough," he said of the compromises that would be necessary to gain more influence.

On some policies, "I'm not far off" from the administration's approach, Mikutel said. He recognizes a need for additional tax revenues, but contends they were too much, while not enough state spending was cut.

He agrees that it is a good idea to give most prisoners an incentive of earlier release if they behave and take advantage of programs that benefit their chance of becoming good citizens and getting a job. But, Mikutel said, there are not enough programs in place and the law should have exempted violent criminals, particularly sex offenders, from early release.

As for making possession of a little pot equivalent to a traffic ticket, he said, "it sends the wrong message, particularly to young people."

Mikutel, who also serves as a selectman in Griswold, wonders if the party might try to find someone to challenge him in a primary in 2012. No one will easily knock him off because, while his positions may be discordant among Democrats in Hartford, he's probably right in line with many in his conservative, though Democratic, district.

He knows it too, which may make his contrarian positions as much practical as they are gutsy.

Paul Choiniere is editorial page editor.