Rowland, after meeting with House leaders (R and D), makes no comment, but has asked for a 6 p.m. press conference tomorrow. Although reports are to the contrary, he might yet do the right thing after sleeping on it. But his M.O. is very similar to his good friend, George W. Bush. That is, admit no mistake and brazen it out.
Six leaders - four top Democrats and the two top Republicans, attended the meeting. They said no one suggested that Rowland resign, and the governor said he had no intention of stepping down.
Instead, they spoke with Rowland about the different options before the legislature and the ramifications.
"It was a very candid discussion about what the end results will be," said Speaker of the House Moira Lyons, D-Stamford.
Rowland did not comment on the meeting Tuesday, but requested time on local television Wednesday evening to discuss the scandal, the stations reported.
This article also has plenty of impeachment details, as that is Topic One all over the state.
Rank-and-file House Democrats are scheduled to meet privately on Thursday. Senate Democrats will meet Friday.
"We will get a consensus from the caucus and as their leader along with the speaker, we'll make a decision of whether it goes to impeachment, or whether we sit back and wait for indictments," said House Majority Leader Jim Amann, D-Milford.
House and Senate Republicans have caucus meetings scheduled for next week to discuss Rowland's situation as well as the upcoming legislative session.
Any impeachment proceedings would begin in the House, where there are 95 Democrats and 56 Republicans.
Impeached officials are tried by the state Senate and can be removed from office by a two-thirds vote. There are 21 Democrats in the Senate and 15 Republicans.
The leaders said Rowland apologized to them for lying about improvements made on his Litchfield summer cottage, yet assured them he has no intentions of resigning and believes his actions do not warrant resignation or impeachment. Rowland also told the group, lawmakers said, that he believes impeachment hearings would "suck the life" out of the legislature, creating a politically polarized atmosphere.
House Minority Leader Robert Ward, R-Branford, said he believed an impeachment process would interfere with the legislature, but did not rule it out entirely. He said it depends on whether more revelations regarding Rowland become known.
Ward said he doesn't yet see Rowland's offenses rising to the level of impeachment.