Capitol watch....

The General Assembly has a sent a bill to Gov. M. Jodi Rell that would put limits on school officials in handing out school suspensions for minor offenses - such as talking back to a teacher, being late for class, etc. If enacted, the new policy would allow school officials to suspend students for major offenses or posing a threat to themselves or others.

There will be no universial health care measure this year. A proposed bill to implement a single payer system died in committee yesterday.

Later today lawmakers will take a measure to provide James Tillman with $5 million tax free. Tillman was wrongly convicted of rape back in 1988, and released in the last year after DNA evidence proved his innocence. Rell had offered a $500,000 payment during her budget address last February. Anotehr bill in the Finance Committee offers $3.5 million.

There are two competing bills in the Senate addressing energy reform. Not sure which, if either, will make it out alive.

And no breakthrough yet in the budget negotiations.