ENLARGE PHOTOGov. M. Jodi Rell

Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, potential candidate for Governor in 2010, today released the following statement regarding news that Democrats in the State Senate today voted to override Governor Rell's veto of the SustiNet Bill (HB 6600):

"Democratic senators should be proud of what they accomplished today, and the people of Connecticut should be grateful to them - and, of course, to Democrats in the House. Their action on the SustiNet bill will make health care more affordable and accessible for many people in Connecticut, and they've helped put us on a path to universal health care. While it's unfortunate that other health care vetos - such as those of the Pooling and Standard Wage bills - were not similarly overridden in the Senate, that failure rests squarely at the feet of the Governor.

The fact is, the Governor should've had the good sense to sign all of these bills instead of vetoing them. Time and again - almost without fail, whenever she's given the choice - the Governor comes down on the side of special interests and against people who need health care. It's disturbing, to say the least. I really do wonder who she and her staff are meeting with, talking to, and listening to when it comes to this issue. As I've said before, it sure isn't the average person in Connecticut.

As I've traveled the state exploring a run for Governor, one of the issues I hear about most from just about everyone is health care. People who have it are having a hard time paying for it, and they're worried about losing it. Owners of businesses of all sizes are getting killed by the costs, and then there are the people who are worst off: the ones who don't have health care at all. When it comes to health care, Governor Rell has let the people of Connecticut down time and again."