Healthcare Exchange Bill Looks to Die on Senate Calendar. Republicans, Administration Make Common Cause in Torpedoing Lembo Proposal.

Senate Republicans got a glimpse of the Malloy administration enemies list when they decided to try to kill this session’s healthcare exchange bill. They were surprised to learn the high spot State Comptroller Kevin Lembo has on the list of Malloy antagonists. Proof of the ferocity of feeling came in administration support for Republican efforts to kill the bill that would have added appointments to the exchange board, diluting Malloy’s control. The bill made it through the House but is stuck on the Senate calendar. It will die there at midnight unless interested parties reach an agreement.

Tensions between high ranking figures in the administration and Lembo, who followed Nancy Wyman in the comptroller’s office, arose during the 2011 legislative session. They continued intermittently after the session and exploded into view this week.

The Senate tradition of long tributes to members not seeking re-election puts a considerable dent in the time available to debate bills. Those encomiums will leave little time for moving complicated compromises through the Senate and back to the House. Senators Edith Prague and Andrew Roraback are departing the upper chamber. At least one more incumbent is expected to leave, though not on the wings of an announcement today.