May 19, 2011

Anger is a great political motivator, Lee Drutman says at Miller-McCune, but it has its downsides, not least of which is that it makes people impervious to other points of view. Researchers who study politics and emotion say two major factors lead people to become angry over adverse circumstances, rather than fearful or anxious. One, […]

When students come to school worried about bullying, they can’t learn. That’s why we strongly support Senate Bill 1138, a comprehensive “safe school climate” bill before the Connecticut General Assembly. One in four Connecticut high school students – and 35 percent of the state’s 9th graders – were bullied or harassed on school property in […]

With every Republican in opposition, the House of Representatives voted 77 to 62 Thursday night for legislation barring discrimination against perhaps one of the last unprotected minorities, the transgender population. The bill barring discrimination on the basis of gender identity applies to employment, housing and public accommodations, including the use of restrooms – a topic […]

With Gov. Dannel P. Malloy openly lobbying for the bill, proponents of controversial legislation mandating paid sick days said Thursday night they appeared to have at least the bare minimum of votes necessary for passage in the Senate. House approval is considered likely. “We’re cautiously optimistic we have the votes,” said Jon Green, the director […]

Legislation that would allow communities in which student populations have declined markedly to cut school funding appears likely to pass this year–but some hard-pressed cities and towns won’t be eligible. Joseph Cirasuolo of school superintendents association: ‘That’s a very questionable public policy’ (WNPR) Rep. Andy Fleischmann, the co-chairman of the Education Committee, said legislative leaders […]

Many Connecticut wage earners will notice their paychecks shrinking faster than anticipated starting this August, when the Department of Revenue Services begins implementing the new $875 million state income tax increase. That’s because the tax hike, which adds three new tax rates, reduces a property tax credit and adds an earned income credit for poor […]

WASHINGTON–Gov. Dannel P. Malloy today urged a group of state and local environmental officials to push the envelope on energy efficiency and to make an inextricable connection between lower energy costs, increased economic competitiveness, and a cleaner environment. Speaking at a “clean energy summit,” organized by the U.S. Department of Energy and held in a […]

With almost half the states looking for A-list candidates to fill vacancies in their top education positions so far this year, Connecticut’s national search has generated little interest since Education Commissioner Mark McQuillan resigned abruptly nearly five months ago. “We were hoping we would get a larger range of applications,” said State Board of Education […]

The first person to ask a question of Gov. Dannel Malloy at today’s “Clean Energy Summit,” organized by the federal Department of Energy, was Peter Corroon, the Mayor of Salt Lake County in Utah. He prefaced his query, which focused on renewable energy, by telling Malloy, “I think your competitor last year now lives in […]