Malloy Goes to Washington, Seeking Transportation and Housing Dollars

WASHINGTON--Gov.-elect Dan Malloy read through the official transition budget, with its $3.4 billion lines in red ink, on an airplane flight to Washington Tuesday morning.

And when he stepped off the jet, Malloy kicked off a lobbying effort in D.C. that he says could be a big part of the solution to the financial crisis awaiting him back in Hartford.

"I want to be very aggressive in going after federal money," Malloy said. "I'm going to be in Washington a lot."

Asked if he thought outgoing Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell did not pursue federal dollars aggressively enough, he asked: "How many times have you seen Jodi Rell down here?"

Noting that he plans to be back in Washington in just ten days, he added, "that tells you something."

After speaking at a Democratic Leadership Council forum on divided government Tuesday morning, Malloy held meetings with Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Shaun Donovan and Deputy Transportation Secretary John Porcari. Those are just first in what Malloy said would be a series of sessions he holds with top federal officials to make Connecticut's case for more federal money.

"We didn't do well in Connecticut [getting federal dollars] when times were good," Malloy added. "I'm trying to reverse that trend," even as Washington looks to slash spending.

Malloy said he started with those two agencies for good reason.

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