Malloy names new DSS chief

Hartford, Conn. (AP) - A former Kansas state official who was ousted from his former job after refusing to issue permits for a coal-fired plant has been tapped to lead Connecticut's Department of Social Services.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Tuesday appointed Roderick L. Bremby, the former cabinet secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, as his new commissioner.

Malloy says Bremby's experience designing new systems for managing personnel, purchasing and documents will be helpful at DSS, which he wants to modernize.

Bremby had refused in 2007 to issue a permit to Sunflower Electric Power Corp. to build the plant, saying it was a health risk. He abruptly stepped down from his job last November after refusing a request from a new governor to leave the agency and take another job.