SCANDAL COULD HARM CONN. CLOUT:

When the terrorist attacks hammered Connecticut’s insurance industry and legislation to blunt asbestos claims was faltering, Republican Gov. John G. Rowland traveled to Washington to lobby for help. A three-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rowland has been a frequent Capitol Hill visitor during his nine years as governor, testifying on issues ranging from homeland security to Head Start. But now, dogged by federal investigators and pelted with calls for his resignation, Rowland may be hard pressed to offer much help on the federal front as members of Congress gear up for a new year of appropriations requests and policy debates. The governor has admitted accepting gifts and free work on a vacation cottage from politically connected friends, state employees and a state contractor. He has said he never returned the favors and has apologized several times for lying about the gifts. Rep. Rob Simmons, one of two Connecticut GOP congressmen to urge Rowland to resign, said the issue has “sucked the oxygen” out of the state Capitol and diverted people’s attention. There are worries that an impeachment process will paralyze the administration. “We can’t have Connecticut be shortchanged just because we have this problem going on,” said Washington lobbyist Michael Lewan, who works on Connecticut issues. Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) believes the federal impact will be minimal. “The fact that the governor is under a cloud is not going to discourage our colleagues from being supportive,” he said. Rowland Chief of Staff Dean Pagani said “none of what is happening here with regard to the controversy surrounding the governor has an effect on state business.” He said there is no concern that the matter will distract state agency officials, and added that “they know what their job is, and they’re doing their job.”

Topics Connecticut