RING AROUND THE DAY CAREPUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE THE LOSERS IN A MOVE TO DEREGULATE PRIVATE CHILD-CARE CENTERS

"My role on the committee was to represent the agency and Ms. Graham," he told New Times.

Moments later, Lynda Rahi, the deputy director of DHS, was happily lecturing about fingerprinting regulations for child-care employees, when one of the committee members asked her what effects the new child-care guidelines would have on her department's budget.

It took a few seconds for Rahi to realize that they were no longer talking about fingerprinting, and she seemed at a loss for words.

The two lobbyists were up to speed, though. Without looking up from his papers, Shipley informed her that the proposed regulations still had to undergo complete fiscal analysis. DeMenna piped up that the Joint Legislative Budget Committee was already looking at the budget.

It was clear who was in charge.