Trouble in the Circle. Tense Senate Democratic Meeting Keeps Tolls in Doubt. Osten Undone.

Senators enjoy referring to themselves as members of the Circle, not a circular firing squad. Thursday’s Senate Democratic meeting on tolls left the Capitol village buzzing about the uncertain way forward. Wary Democrats enjoy decisive control of both legislative chambers but continue to resist Governor Ned Lamont’s various plans to levy billions in tolls on state residents.

State Senator Cathy Osten’s dramatic star turn during a briefing on the toll plan from Lamont aides overshadowed the dreary presentation. An agitated Osten displayed angry wounds from her Tuesday defeat for re-election as Sprague’s first selectman. The retired corrections officer blamed the prospect of tolls, not the mismanagement of local finances, for her stinging loss. Senate Democrats, who mounted a failed rescue mission of their colleague with troops and treasure, agree. Osten’s frequent, vivid interventions left Lamont’s ambassadors miffed and witnesses worried about Osten, tolls, and their Senate majority.

Democrats suspect that Osten’s bitter fate provided a preview of what awaits them if they support tolls less than a year before facing voters alone in 2020. Lamont, whose popularity peaked on election night in 2018, enjoys a four year term. Senate Democrats do not want to become the frontline of voter discontent in a year when presidential candidates ignore Connecticut, neither U.S. senator is poring millions into ginning up Democratic turnout and the five U.S. representatives confront token Republican opponents. That could leave legislative Democrats with no buffers between themselves and infuriated voters who believed Lamont’s 2018 trucks-only toll pledge.