The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority released a draft decision today asserting jurisdiction in the merger of Northeast Utilities and NStar, reversing a much-maligned ruling made in June. A final decision will come on January 18. In its draft, the regulators cited information provided by the attorney general’s office and the Officer of Consumer Counsel, which […]
January 4, 2012
Blumenthal targets drug shortages, “gray market” hoarding
Treatment for Susan Block’s ovarian cancer required doctors, drugs and, critically, the intervention of a U.S. senator. The West Hartford woman was two days away from her fourth course of chemotherapy this summer when she learned that the drug was not available, causing her to miss the treatment. The drug Block needed, known as doxil, […]
Racial profiling law ignored for a decade
Only 27 police departments consistently file annual reports required by state law to show whether minorities are targeted in traffic stops — not that it would matter if more departments complied. No one has analyzed the limited data that is filed since 2001. A dozen years after the Connecticut General Assembly banned racial profiling in […]
Watchdogs urge lawmakers to limit Executive Branch oversight
The divisions of state government’s new and loosely unified watchdog agency found a common voice this week as they opposed recommendations that would increase executive branch oversight of their missions. Leaders of the right-to-know, clean elections and ethics agencies, along with the child advocate, urged lawmakers in a new report not to enhance the powers […]