Lieberman touts jobs program

STAMFORD -- Sen. Joseph

Lieberman, the self-described independent Democrat from Stamford, cannot always be counted on to toe the party line.

But during a stop in his hometown Monday to tout a job training and employment program for veterans, Lieberman made it very clear he supports Democratic efforts in Congress to extend long-term unemployment benefits to some 2.5 million people.

"When you come to people in this country who have been unemployed for a long time and that check is their lifeline ... you've got to view that as an emergency,"

Lieberman said during his stop at CTE, Inc., a community action agency on Woodland Avenue.

Lieberman visited the non-profit organization to highlight $800,000 worth of federal grants the Department of Labor awarded lower Fairfield County programs that help veterans with green job training, re-employment and homelessness.

But he also fielded reporters' questions on related issues like the unemployment benefits battle and his hopes of passing climate change legislation he believes will foster green job growth.

The last extension of benefits expired in April and Democrats' efforts at renewal have been thwarted by Republicans, who argue borrowing the $35 billion necessary will only add to an unacceptable federal debt. They instead want government to make cuts to pay for it.

Lieberman said while he has in the past opposed legislation on similar grounds, the current debate is "an outrageously unacceptable form of gridlock."

"There's just not excuse for this," he said. "This is just wrong."

The Senate is expected to try again Tuesday.

"What it takes is a few Republicans to break ranks. We've got a chance to do that again this week," Lieberman said.

Patrick Aldrich knows the importance of an unemployment check. A Navy veteran who is enlisted in the Army National Guard, Aldrich lost his job of nearly two decades in retail facility management last September.

"It's the only thing I knew for so long," he said. "I hadn't been on an interview in 19 years. (My) resume was going out but no contacts were coming back in."

Aldrich joined Lieberman at CTE to talk about how he has taken advantage of the federally funded green jobs training and was hired two weeks ago by Derby-based Alternative Global Energy.

Asked about what unemployment benefits meant to his family in recent months, Aldrich said while his wife worked part-time he was the bread winner.

"Without that, we would have been in financial trouble," he said.

Lieberman also used the opportunity to tout the need for Congress to pass a climate change bill.

"There's not a single piece of legislation before Congress that can create more new jobs in America than this energy independence legislation," he said.

Lieberman said he does not have the 60 votes necessary in the Senate to pass legislation co-sponsored by him and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. But he hoped some of their ideas would be salvaged in another bill being crafted by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada.

"It's not what we wanted but it would be a significant step forward," Lieberman said.

But he also acknowledged that with mid-term elections less than four months away "this is a very risk averse time in Washington."

Lieberman believes debate might begin before the August recess. And if something is not passed before November he speculated Congress could act during a winter "lame duck" session.

"We've got a fighting chance," Lieberman said.

Lieberman, who ran successfully as a third party candidate in 2006 after losing the nomination to Ned Lamont, of Greenwich, has declined to endorse a candidate to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd. He refused again Monday, but said he is "really enjoying watching the campaign."

"It's an important race," Lieberman said. "Senator Dodd has served the state very well."

Democrats nominated state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to succeed Dodd while the GOP tapped Linda McMahon, whose family owns Stamford-based World Wrestling Entertainment, at the party's convention.

McMahon, who is touting herself as a Washington outsider, has two Republican opponents in the Aug. 10 primary -- former U.S. Congressman Rob Simmons of Stonington and economist Peter Schiff of Weston.

Although Lieberman at one time was highly critical of sex and violence on television, including WWE programming, he recently told reporters that, unlike some of McMahon's critics, he is not going to hold her accountable for what she has done in the past.

The McMahon family has also contributed to Lieberman in the past.

Asked Monday if he thought WWE had become more responsible in recent years, Lieberman said, "I must tell you the truth. I haven't been focused on that in a long time."

Staff Writer Brian Lockhart can be reached at brian.lockhart@scni.com