Good morning and welcome back to the Tip Sheet, a weekly newsletter from Tom Dudchik’s Capitol Report written by Mike Cerulli.

This week, we’ll highlight some of the many tributes to the former governor M. Jodi Rell. Leaders across the political spectrum offered We also checked in with Governor Lamont after his overnight trip to Washington for a private dinner at the White House. Finally, we’ll break down some of the announcements coming from House Democrats as they roll out committee chair assignments for this term.

Let’s dive in…

Remembering Jodi Rell

The obituaries and tributes that poured in following the death of M. Jodi Rell, the 87th governor of Connecticut reflected a life of service that commanded universal respect across the political spectrum.

Former governor John Rowland remembered Rell as a “maternal” figure –echoing former governor Dan Malloy and Governor Ned Lamont who both praised Rell for leading the state through the tumultuous time following Rowland’s fall from grace.

You can click here to watch the three governors – Rowland, Malloy, and Lamont – paying tribute to Governor Rell.

Mark Pazniokas described Rell as “calm and reassuring.”

Chris Keating noted she was “A highly popular governor with high poll ratings who was known for civility and bipartisanship.”

Dan Haar spoke with Malloy and Senator Richard Blumenthal shortly after news of Rell’s passing broke. Both offered unique historical perspectives on the legacy Rell leaves.

Ken Dixon dove deep with Rowland who repeatedly described her as “beloved.”

Some of the most heartfelt tributes came from those whose lives and careers were shaped by Rell. Liz Kurantowicz fondly recalled working for Rell as they both geared up for the 2006 election. Senate Minority Leader Steve Harding wrote, “One of the greatest joys in my career was that once in a while, Governor Rell would send me a handwritten note.” Harding and Rell shared a hometown and Harding once held the same state House seat Rell represented.

“The notes were always thoughtful, positive and upbeat,” Harding said. “I treasured those notes, and I still have them today.”

Plans for memorial services have not yet been announced.

The Capitol Report team extends our deepest condolences to the whole Rell family.

At the White House, Lamont joins Bidenworld for a “last hurrah”

On Friday evening, Governor Ned Lamont was among the hundreds of guests who filed into a large transparent tent erected on the South Lawn of the White House for a private dinner hosted by President Joe Biden.

The dinner was described by the White House pool reporter as a gathering of longtime Biden supporters. Page Six quoted unnamed sources who described the event as a sort of “last hurrah” for Bidenworld loyalists.

The Tip Sheet spoke with Lamont following his return to Connecticut on Saturday. Lamont was one of the first major Democrats to back Biden in the lead-up to the 2020 primaries. At the time, endorsing Biden was viewed as a political gamble. Five years, one pandemic, one insurrection, and one halting debate performance later, Lamont would become one of the first governors to suggest it was time for Biden to step aside.

Lamont said the event had a “very reflective” tone. The governor was seated with members of the Biden family and was accompanied by his daughter, Emily.

Reporters in the room spotted a number of prominent Democratic figures including Minnesota governor Tim Walz, Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, Maryland governor Wes Moore, and Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker.

Addressing the crowd, Biden reflected on his multi decade path to the White House.

“I never could have gotten to where the White House has become without Biden said in livestreamed remarks. “And that’s not hyperbole. I mean it from the bottom of my heart.”

Lamont said he shared a brief moment with the president, a man he first met in Iowa while supporting Chris Dodd’s 2008 presidential campaign.

The governor fondly recalled his first interaction with then-Senator Biden, who was also a candidate for the Democratic nomination.

“If I wasn’t running, I’d be for Dodd, too,” Lamont recalls Biden saying to him at the time.

“It’s tough when you have to look back and say, ‘I’m turning the page,” Lamont said of Biden’s remarks at the dinner.

Reflections on Biden’s life and career – one filled with parallel tales of loss, new beginnings, and political triumph – likely struck a chord with Lamont, who is himself inking new pages in his own personal life and multi decade political saga.

Lamont now faces the choice, as Biden did this summer, of whether or not to seek re-election. Unlike the 46th president, who made his decision under great pressure from the most powerful figures in the Democratic party, Lamont makes his choice with the political winds largely at his back – for now.

In his remarks, Biden joked that he would not let the night go by without sneaking in at least one quotation from Irish poet. Biden chose Yates for the occasion. “Think where man’s glory most begins and ends,” Biden told the crowd, "and say my glory was I had such friends.”

Biden’s emphasis on his close friends and family, particularly his many grandchildren, is another area where the president and the governor overlap. This weekend, Lamont celebrated the christening of his first grandson, Finn.

Friday night was likely the last time Lamont will ever be in the same room as Joe Biden while the two both hold elected office. Indeed, there are less than 60 days until Biden, who has been in elected office for all but four of the last 54 years, is out of public office for good.

What lesson does Lamont take away from Biden’s lifetime in office?

Lamont said above all he’d remember Biden’s character. The president, Lamont said, defied the adage that “nice guys finish last.”

“Not Joe Biden,” Lamont said.

Who’s getting the gavels?

House Speaker Matt Ritter and Majority Leader Jason Rojas have been rolling out their picks for committee key chairmanships, with several yet to be announced.

In their first wave of picks, there were few surprises.

Maria Horn will return as chair of the finance committee. Toni Walker will keep the appropriations committee gavel. Steve Stafstrom will stay as chair of the judiciary committee. Eleni Kavros DeGraw was reappointed chair of the planning & development committee. Crisitn McCarthy-Vahey will continue to lead the public health committee. Pat Boyd will be back for another term as chair of the public safety committee.

On the banking committee, the announcement that Jason Doucette would return as chairman was of note to the insiders monitoring the behind-the-scenes deliberations over who will chair the general law committee. Doucette had been viewed as a frontrunner for the general law gavel but ultimately decided to stay on the banking committee. He wrote in a statement that he intends to prioritize housing from his perch on the influential committee in the upcoming session.

Doucette’s decision means there are still yet-to-be announced chairs of the general law and education committees. Sources familiar with House leadership discussions tell the Tip Sheet that at least one current committee chair has expressed interest in possibly leading one of the two committees with gavels up for grabs – meaning another chairmanship could very well be opened up in the coming days.

On the Republican side, Vin Candelora has a similar set of decisions to make when it comes to naming ranking members for key committees. Candelora’s choice to lead the Republicans on the finance committee is of particular interest to members of his caucus. Holly Cheeseman, well-respected East Lyme legislator who serves the committee’s current ranking member, lost her re-election bid in a closely-fought race against Democrat Nick Menapace. Candelora's pick for finance committee ranking member will also assume Cheeseman's critical role on the State Bond Commission.

Neither of the State Senate caucuses have publicly announced their committee leadership assignments.

The Tip Sheet Job Board

Tip Sheet reader Ben Shaiken flagged a recent job post from the CT Nonprofit Alliance. The group is seeking a public policy and advocacy associate.

Let us know if you have any job postings you’d like us to highlight!

One more thing…

Jason Jakubowski and the whole gang at CT Foodshare are in the midst of another busy holiday season.

CT Foodshare is once again teaming up with News 8 and other organizations around the state to collect food for families in need this Thanksgiving.

CT Foodshare serves hundreds of local food pantries around the state and has a goal of feeding 50,000 families this Thanksgiving.

You can help out the cause by donating here. 

Props to the whole team at CT Foodshare!

Have a great Thanksgiving! We'll be back next week...