Washington Update: Murph’s Office, Lieberman’s Speech, Sandy Cash

In D.C. news, Joe Lieberman has a date for his final speech, Chris Murphy discovers that being a senator means a bigger office and a lot more staff and Gov. Malloy lobbies for billions of dollars in Sandy relief.

Talking to Courant reporter Chris Keating today, Murphy said he had not hired a new staff director. As a senator, his roster grows from about 15 to as many as 40. It’s all “still in flux,” Murphy said.

Yesterday, Lieberman and Sen. Richard Blumenthal were on the phone with Gov. Malloy and the White House about Connecticut’s bid for $3.2 billion in Sandy cleanup money. The federal cash would be part of a larger request from New York, Connecticut and New Jersey to pay for cleaning up the mess and to finance long-term improvements, such as moving power lines underground.

“This nation has a proud tradition of recognizing a deep obligation to help victims and regions recover and rebuild after natural disaster.  No matter whether hurricane, flood, tornado, or earthquake — our country provides relief, and so it should now after Sandy. Fiscal austerity should not stand in the way of continuing to provide the necessary relief to those impacted by Hurricane Sandy,” Blumenthal said. “I support Governor Malloy’s supplemental budget request and will do all that I can to make sure that Connecticut receives the necessary funding to not only repair existing damage, but to protect the state from future storm damage.”

Lieberman, meanwhile, will make his final speech on the senate floor on Dec. 12, according to tentative plans from his office. The date is subject to change.