For the second time since the Citizens’ Election Program was launched in 2008, participation in General Assembly primaries is higher than in previous years, and advocates say that’s proof that public campaign financing invigorates the system. But while the number of primary candidates has increased slightly from two years ago, the number seeking public financing […]
July 22, 2010
Tax credits the latest battleground in health reform PR war
WASHINGTON–Under the new health care reform law, 76 percent of small businesses in Connecticut are now eligible for tax credits to help pay for health insurance, a benefit that will greatly expand access to health care, according to a new report this week from Families USA, a Washington-based consumer health care advocacy group. Not so, […]
State officials grow weary of Connecticut’s tax roller coaster
When state legislators adopted a host of new tax and fee hikes last September, analysts estimated they would raise enough to cover about $700 million in projected revenue erosion tied to a slumping economy and provide another $250 million in extra funds to boot. But with the final calculation on the 2009-10 fiscal year almost […]
Rising salaries press CSU’s budget
As pay freezes expired this month for unionized faculty and staff at the Connecticut State University System, the university also ended a freeze for non-union administrators, against the wishes of Gov. M. Jodi Rell. By the time Rell issued a plea last week to hold the line on non-union salaries, CSU had already granted raises […]
After investigation of last-minute cash donations, Garcia qualifies for public financing
Gerry Garcia has qualified for $375,000 in public financing to run his campaign for secretary of the state. The State Election Enforcement Commission approved his application today, but only after investigating some last minute cash contributions that amounted to 40 percent of his $83,000 raised. “We investigate whenever there is a significant group of cash […]
GOP funding lags in underticket races
Apart from the big-money races for governor and U.S. Senate, nearly a dozen major party candidates are vying for statewide office on the underticket, and in these contests, most Democrats are operating with far larger bank accounts than their Republican opponents. Their advantage is attributable to two factors; More Democrats are running their campaigns under […]
Ted Kennedy Jr. endorses Lamont, cuts an ad
Ned Lamont rolled out a new television ad today in which he is endorsed by Ted Kennedy Jr. The son of the late U.S. senator, Kennedy is a long-time Connecticut resident who has been mentioned as a potential candidate for public office. His father endorsed Lamont in his 2006 race for U.S. Senate. In the […]