State employee unions have rejected Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s call to offer the second worker retirement incentive program in two years, according to a written statement released late tonight by the administration. But the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition responded that it didn’t reject anything, but rather insisted that Rell first assess how a second […]
April 28, 2010 @ 12:00 am
Rell proposes traditional borrowing to replace securitization: Ratepayers, energy efficiency programs still would pay.
Just two weeks after raiding the next state budget to balance the current one, Gov. M. Jodi Rell unveiled a plan this afternoon to do the reverse – and thereby replace $1.3 billion in planned securitization with nearly $1 billion in more traditional borrowing. The odd back-and-forth maneuver still would place new burdens on residents […]
House votes to lay groundwork for tax overhaul debate
The state House voted Wednesday to lay the groundwork for what could be a complete overhaul of the state’s tax system by ordering a comprehensive study of the existing revenue structure–the first since establishment of the state income tax nearly 20 years ago. “There is precedent do exactly this the last time we faced a […]
Commentary at The Connecticut Mirror
It’s been three months since The Connecticut Mirror began news coverage of Connecticut’s government, politics and public policy. In that time we’ve published hundreds of stories viewed by a steadily-growing number of visitors to our website, CTMirror.org, as well as by readers of our newspaper partners. Now we’re starting a new opinion section, CTCommons, to […]
Foley exempts GOP from blame for fiscal crisis at forum
BRIDGEPORT – At a crowded gubernatorial forum today, Republican Tom Foley exempted the GOP from any responsibility for the state’s fiscal crisis, despite controlling the governor’s office for 16 years. Foley, the Republican front-runner, was immediately ridiculed by Democrats, who asked why he was running for an office he saw as powerless compared to a […]
A controversy over diversity sheds light on how judges are chosen
The path to becoming a Superior Court judge eventually involves a public examination and vote by the legislature, but it begins in private at the New Haven Lawn Club. Once every month, the Judicial Selection Commission meets at the club to interview would-be judges, then votes up or down on their prospects. Without exception, as […]
Democrats say Rell lacks focus on budget
One day after the legislature’s Black and Puerto Rican Caucus threatened to hold up her nominees for judgeships because of a lack of minority candidates, Gov. M. Jodi Rell came up with a compromise to get her choices approved by the Judiciary Committee. Three weeks after Rell threatened to veto a proposal by Democrats to […]
Bills aim to make roadways safer
As the legislative session nears its end, proponents are pushing for passage of several bills they say will crack down on dangerous driving in Connecticut. “Most of them are ready to go,” said Rep. Antonio Guerrera, D-Rocky Hill, co-chairman of the legislature’s Transportation Committee. “Let’s look at the big picture, these are public safety bills.” […]