Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • C2

C2 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2012 THE HARTFORD COURANT RICHARD J. GRAZIANO, PUBLISHER 1 'HK )N KM OPINION CAROLYN LUMSDEN, OPINION EDITOR TT clumsdencourant.com PUBLISHED NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA ENGLEHART'S VIEW THEyftE SLOW, ILL-TEMPEREP ANP FRI6HTENEP. SO JX PON'T TEASE THEM "BEHIND THE SCENES" Delve into the mind of Courant cartoonist Bob Englehart as he creates at courant.comcartoonvideo. YOUR LETTERS Republican members of Congress from New England, and goes on to say that we had some good Republican candidates who ran Nov. 16, "A Comeback In GOP's Are not the writers of this editorial the same people who did not endorse any Republicans this year? I was shocked that The Courant didn't endorse at least one Republican, in particular Andrew Roraback.

To now say it is "unhealthy" to have only one party represented is the height of hypocrisy. Pauline R. Kezer, Old Saybrook The writer is a former secretary of the state. OUR VIEW A Curious Change For nearly two decades, Northeast Utilities has been an unusually strong and imaginative force in economic development in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. The company's economic development and community relations department had a small core of bright people who founded, funded or otherwise got the company involved in such initiatives as the Hartford-Springfield Economic Partnership, Connecticut Main Street Center, Community Builders Institute, Bradley Development League, MetroHartford Alliance and Team New England.

The company is a longtime major supporter of the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, the state's marketing arm. But the future of this innovative involvement is now in serious question. Key Executives Laid Off NU merged with Boston-based NStar in April, and as the companies joined their corporate operations, the new NU has taken a different philosophical tack on economic development. The three key company executives promoting the existing economic development programs, Douglas Fisher, David Driver and Thomas Marano, were all laid off in September, as The Hartford Business Journal reported. Company spokesman Al Lara said the company is still committed to funding community and charitable organizations in the region.

He said its new approach to economic development is being reviewed, but that a "grass roots strategy" is emerging, in which NU representatives work with each community. According to other sources, the new department is more focused on community liaison for emergency response in cases of storms or other crises, not on the large-scale, proactive economic development efforts that have characterized the past two decades. This change apparently reflects the low-key marketing philosophy of the Boston-based managers of the new company. Why They Were Needed While it's too soon to say how this will play out, we were impressed by what Messrs. Fisher, Driver and Marano were doing, both from a civic and business perspective.

Take, for example, Connecticut Main Street, a program dedicated to reviving historic downtowns around the state. Since it was founded by Mr. Fisher and others in 1995, it has triggered nearly $1 billion in investment in dozens of downtowns. Since 2007, despite the recession, downtowns with Main Street programs have seen a 20 percent increase in jobs, an 18 percent increase in new businesses and a 68 percent increase in private investment. This is good for the cities and for NU's bottom line.

With more commercial activity, NU sells more electricity in areas where circuits and other infrastructure already exist. Funding Connecticut Main Street is enlightened self-interest. Or consider the Hartford-Springfield partnership. By bringing together chambers of commerce, planners, businesses, colleges, government agencies and others, the partnership has been able to take part in trade shows, lobby for initiatives such as the new New Haven-Hartford-Springfield commuter rail line and restructuring of governance at Bradley International Airport, and promote tourism, education and workforce development. For example, the partnership helped produce a $4.9 million U.S.

Department of Labor grant earlier this year to the Capital Workforce Partners in Hartford and the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County in Springfield to train nurses and other health workers. In the past decade, the partnership has brought about $16 million in federal grants to the region. "It's been very useful," said Lyle Wray, executive director of the Capitol Region Council of Governments. It is indeed useful: It makes the area more attractive to businesses and residents, which in turn means more customers for electricity. The partnership is supported by member dues and will continue to exist.

NU sponsored some of the marketing efforts, such as attendance at trade shows. Hopefully that will continue. But what is lost is the substantial expertise and institutional knowledge that the three former NU executives brought to the table. Mr. Fisher and Mr.

Driver are the chairmen, respectively, of the Hartford-Springfield partnership and Connecticut Economic Resource Center (but will soon be stepping down). Marketing works, especially with experienced professionals at the helm. As NU's new managers continue to review their operations in Connecticut, they might want to take a second look at what Mr. Fisher and his crew were doing here. They were making things better.

The American Spirit Of Unity, Purpose The beauty of this country does not merely lie in its breathtaking scenery. It is the American people who make this country great. In tough times, Americans unite and help wherever they can. Whether it is funding or providing food and blankets, Americans work together and help each other out. That feeling, that spirit, I would like to see among those elected by the people to represent them in government.

What is best for the nation might not always be most convenient for the people, but if there is a people with the spirit and courage to deal with it, it is the American people. That is what makes this country great, and I hope that Congress and the executive branch can set aside their differences, work together as a team and do what they were chosen to do. Stephanie Slappendel-Modean, Manchester No To More Money While I agree the current debt situation needs attention as pointed out by letter writer John Moore in "Attention: Deficit" Nov. 13, I'm not convinced providing more dollars via increased taxes for our federal government to spend is the answer. We've hit the latest point where they all swear they've seen the light and will follow through on debt reduction.

But once the money is rolling in, they will conveniently find ways it must be spent and we'll be told again how there just isn't enough left to pay down what we already borrowed. Until there is evidence that our elected officials in Washington can be responsible stewards of our tax dollars, it doesn't make sense to fall for the trap of more taxes as the answer to reducing the debt burden. Bill Clark, Farmington Save Hostess We all know that a lot of the things Hostess has made are probably not the best things you could eat, but it has been an American institution since 1930 and it employs more than 18,000 people throughout the nation Nov. 16, Business, "Hostess Says Job Cuts In Connecticut Its products have brought joy and comfort to multitudes and were a part of our young lives. I hope some "white knight" rides in and offers capital and guidance.

Perhaps even the government could help save our beloved Ding-Dongs, Twinkies and Ho-Hos. Tom Salafia, Middletown No Republicans? A Courant editorial today laments the fact that there are now no Save Thanksgiving I applaud the large, color "Save Thanksgiving" ad in Friday's Courant by PC. Richard and Son. Well done. It is indeed sad that some retailers choose to open on a day that has long meant to be a day to be with families, friends and loved ones.

Do those retailers who wish to disregard the holiday think that they will make such a profit by opening on that day? Anyone who agrees should not shop on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a holiday that should be preserved. Joyce Blanchard, Simsbury WHO WE ARE CAROLYN LUMSDEN at kheidelcourant.com and 860-241-6601. PETER PACH edits the Sunday Opinion section is editor of the Opinion Page. She's at and daily op-eds.

He's at ppachcourant.com clumsden courant.com and 860-241-3698. BOB ENGLEHART is The Courant's cartoonist. He's at renglehart or opedcourant.com and TOM CONDON is The Courant's chief editorial writer and an op-ed columnist. He's at KEN HEIDEL manages online opinion, including Ed Page on Face book, letters to the editor and courant.com and 860-343-5222. For more details, please go to www.courant.comedstaff.

tcondoncourant.com and the Cartoon Caption Contest. He's OP-ED Good Rules Create Bipartisan Cooperation Some changes, either by rule or practice, could include guaranteeing a vote on all judicial and other nominations within 30 days of a committee vote; eliminating the hold that individual senators have on bills and nominations; revising the rules on filibusters; eliminating seniority as a factor in committee assignments; and allowing the minority party a more liberal amendment process. Make the Rules Committee a true, bipartisan committee. In Connecticut, we traditionally have had two committees Regulation Review and Program Investigation that are truly bipartisan. This is a good example for our Washington brethren.

It will be interesting to see whether this new Congress will actually try to change its rules or how it governs. Whether by rules or practice, if Congress doesn't spend significant time working on how it makes decisions, all this talk of bipartisanship is just talk. Thomas D. Ritter is a lawyer in Hartford, which he represented in the Connecticut House from 1980 to 1998. He was Speaker of the House during his last six years.

a big difference to an institution that had no respect for people's time. We asked noted facilitators, such as Michael Rion and Howard Rifldn, to work on the decision-making process with our members. Legislators learned to leave their conclusions behind and to focus on our objectives and work toward consensus. In the first month of the 1993 legislative session, Democratic Majority Leader Thomas Luby, Republican Minority Leader Edward Krawiecki and I jointly announced the dates we would be debating the major issues before the legislature worker's and unemployment compensation reform, the budget, the death penalty and casino gambling and that all debates would begin in the early afternoon. We also announced what days we would not be in session so members could plan their work and family schedules.

The next term brought a new Democratic majority leader, Moira Lyons, and new Republican minority leader, Robert Ward. We decided to form bipartisan working groups on major issues, including the proposed UConn 2000 program, early childhood legislation, and welfare reform. Newly-elected Republican Gov. John G. Rowland had the appropriate members of his administration sit in with us and we worked on these issues with members from both sides of the aisle.

The late Republican Rep. Dick Belden spent months working on all of the bonding issues in UConn 2000. Republican Rep. Brian Mattiello and Democratic Rep. John Thompson worked closely on welfare reform.

Democrat Joan Hartley led the group (that included Yale University Professor Edward Zigler, who was responsible for the original Head Start legislation) that fashioned the nation's best early childhood program. After this passed the House, we gave ourselves a standing ovation! Everyone in the chamber was very proud of the progress we made working together. I always liked having Minority Leader Ward in meetings with Majority Leader Lyons and me as he was one of the brightest and well-meaning legislators with whom I ever served. The first vote for the newly elected U.S. Congress will be on rules, and it will probably be negotiated by the leaders and rubber stamped by the members.

Yet, if people really want to govern in a bipartisan basis, this would be the perfect spot to start. By THOMAS D. RITTER After another election where negative campaigning was the norm, we are now hearing cries for bipartisanship in Washington. The way candidates attack one another these days, this is not an easy proposition. You can only serve as well as you run.

As one who worked to foster a bipartisan atmosphere during my time in Connecticut's General Assembly, I can review the approaches that actually worked. As Speaker of the House, I focused on process how decisions were made. I firmly believe that good substance comes from good process, and an effective governing body is one where all the members feel they are part of the decision-making. When one party excludes the other, it leads to nastier campaigns, because there becomes such a premium being in the majority. The first thing we did seems rather elementary.

We required in our rules that each committee meeting had to start within IS minutes of its scheduled time or it would be canceled. I personally escorted each House committee chair to his or her first committee meeting. This one simple change made.