Hundreds of teachers, parents, teachers union leaders and students descended on the state Capitol Tuesday, objecting to the Department of Education’s use of the Smarter Balanced test associated with the Common Core Standards. Some key lawmakers, however, appear to be unmoved.
May 12, 2015
Access Health CT sees fiscal stability while other exchanges struggle
Though the state’s health exchange soon will consider boosting insurance assessments, Access Health CT officials said Tuesday Connecticut’s program is on sound financial footing – unlike many other state exchanges.
Malloy names four to Superior Court
The first of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s second-term nominees to the Superior Court are Alice A. Bruno of New Britain, John B. Farley of West Hartford, Gerald L. Harmon of Southington and Edward T. Krumeich II of Greenwich.
Should Connecticut re-instate tolls on its major highways?
The Connecticut legislature is considering a bill (HB 6818) that would order the transportation commissioner to establish a toll-collection system on the state’s major highways at its borders. The bill would also set up “safeguards to ensure that any toll revenue is deposited in the Special Transportation Fund (STF) and used only for transportation purposes.” Witnesses — many from the state’s border communities — submitted testimony in opposition to the idea. A few were in favor. Here is an excerpted sampling of both. The full list of witnesses and their written testimony can be found here.
Universal preschool: Reality falling far short of vision
An ambitious state plan to assure every child access to a high-quality preschool is rolling out far short of what was envisioned because of fiscal realities facing the state and school districts.
Connecticut businessman: Congress should protect us from ‘patent trolls’
Patent Assertion Entities (sometimes pejoratively referred to as “patent trolls”) are companies that use overly broad patents as tools of intimidation. They force businesses to pay license fees for processes they are already using. It’s wrong, and it harms our economy. But Congress has an opportunity to pass common sense patent reform this year that will have a real and beneficial impact on small businesses across the country.