Connecticut’s acute-care hospitals saw gains from their operations tumble 35 percent in the last fiscal year, with seven of 29 hospitals reporting operating losses, according to a new state report.
2014
Posted inMoney
Mary Finnegan: Three decades as CT fiscal linchpin coming to an end
She might be the most important person in state government that you’ve never heard of. The caretaker of thousands of bills for the legislature’s finance committee, arguably the assembly’s most powerful. The possessor of a deep passion for her Irish heritage and the Boston Red Sox. Mary Finnegan announced last week it was all coming to an end – except for her love of all things Irish and the Sox.
Posted inHealth
DSS said to have continued thousands on Medicaid without ensuring they were still eligible
The state Department of Social Services continued providing Medicaid coverage to thousands of people for more than a year without checking whether they remained eligible, as is federally required, according to a contractor who recently left the department.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Defense bill has billions for new sub class, other CT-made weapons
WASHINGTON – The defense authorization bill making its way through Congress containins billions for submarines, helicopters and other weaponry made by companies in the state. It includes a special $3.5 billion fund for a new class of submarines that could be built by Electric Boat in Groton.
Posted inPolitics
Feds: Rowland was making $420,000 when he cut secret consulting deal
Federal prosecutors say that former Gov. John G. Rowland was making $420,000 a year when he conspired to be secretly hired for $5,000 a month as a consultant to the 2012 congressional campaign of Lisa Wilson-Foley.
Posted inPolitics
Sharkey names Berger to Finance, Tong to Judiciary
House Speaker J. Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, changed the leadership of a half-dozen committees Friday as he named Rep. Jeff Berger of Waterbury as the new co-chair of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee and Rep. William Tong of Stamford to lead the Judiciary Committee.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Doctors and computers — not the best examining room combo
Several of studies in peer-reviewed journals have concluded that a doctor’s use of a personal digital assistant or laptop computers in the examining room is good. We challenge this premise.
Posted inNews
Op-Ed: Doctors and computers — not the best examining room combo
Several of studies in peer-reviewed journals have concluded that a doctor’s use of a personal digital assistant or laptop computers in the examining room is good. We challenge this premise.
Posted inPolitics
Rowland makes bid to avoid up to 37 months in prison
John G. Rowland is using testimonials from his daughters and stepson, wife and ex-wife, the minister who served as his radio co-host, and others in a bid to convince a federal judge to disregard a probation officer’s calculation that sentencing guidelines call for the former governor to be returned to prison for up to 37 months.
Posted inPolitics
Coltsville national park passes the House tucked in a defense bill; Senate next
WASHINGTON – The long-sought designation of Hartford’s Coltsville neighborhood as a national historic park was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday, tucked into a massive $577 billion defense bill. Now the legislation is headed for the Senate, where there could be a fight over including provisions for public lands in a defense bill.
Posted inPolitics
Blumenthal promotes bill to combat sports blackouts
Washington – Sen. Richard Blumenthal knocked major league sports leagues Thursday, saying the federal government has given them a “blank check,” and promoted legislation that would pressure the leagues to end the blackout of games.
Posted inEducation
CT ranked near bottom for policies on charter school accountability
Connecticut is one of the worst states for policies that hold charter schools accountable, according to a national organization that advocates for strong oversight of these publicly funded schools.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers united in support for tax break bill
Washington – After a lot of wrangling and a veto threat from the White House, the U.S. House of Representatives finally voted on Wednesday for a bill that would extend dozens of tax breaks — with the support of the entire Connecticut House delegation.
Posted inNews
VIDEO REPLAY: Mirror/AARP Google Hangout with House leaders
The Connecticut Mirror hosted a special Google Hangout with House Speaker J. Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, and House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, in advance of the 2015 legislative session. See a replay of the video.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut, keep the spending cap
As someone who spent too much before becoming a husband and father who is now a little more careful, sometimes I wish our state government could marry my wife.