The House of Representatives adopted a measure late Monday that would make it easier for undocumented residents to obtain a restricted, “drive-only” license.
May 18, 2015
Police violence cases spurring CT proposals for body cameras
WASHINGTON — A rash of cases involving police violence against young black men — most recently including the death of a Baltimore man in police custody — has bolstered the case for body-worn police video cameras both in Connecticut and Washington. Several Connecticut departments are exploring the idea, and the U.S. Senate will hold a hearing on the issue this week.
CT says it has six months of transportation funds if Congress fails to act
Washington — The law that authorizes federal transportation spending in Connecticut and across the nation runs out at the end of the month, and the fund that pays for that spending is expected to go broke two months later, but Connecticut says it has funding in place for at least six months’ worth of projects if Congress fails to act in time to avert the looming crisis.
Would state sales tax hike really translate into local tax relief?
The fate of a major proposed expansion of Connecticut’s sales tax may not hinge solely on the objections of businesses and consumers. The key question could be whether cities and towns — the prime beneficiaries of these potential sales tax receipts — would use those funds to lower property taxes or to expand local spending.
CT to make a start on electric vehicle incentives
In the face of tight state finances, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is about to unveil financial incentives for electric vehicle purchases and leases using money from outside the state budget. Malloy will announce that $1 million from the Northeast Utilities/NSTAR merger settlement fund will be used to help jump-start a sluggish EV market in Connecticut.
On Connecticut’s campuses, administration is not a dirty word
During a budget crunch It’s easy to blame administrative bloat and the regional office for a college system’s ills, but can we afford independent college infrastructures or do we need a system or regional infrastructure to provide economies of scale? How important is local decision-making and in particular academic control? How do we maximize teaching resources when current funding is simply not sufficient to meet both student demand and overall organizational operating needs?
Providing a military honor guard is a moral obligation
The state has a moral obligation to provide an honor guard detail for military funerals. Any proposal to reduce funding for this service is an embarrassment.
Future of Connecticut Rails: Last call for tickets for Tuesday’s Half Full event
The final event in The Mirror’s four-part Policy Pairings Series will take place Tuesday at Half Full Brewery in Stamford and feature a panel discussion on “The Future of Connecticut Rails.” Panelists will be Connecticut Transportation Commissioner James Redeker; Amanda Kennedy, the Connecticut director of the Regional Plan Association; and Jim Cameron, former chair of The CT Metro-North Rail Commuter Council. The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m.