It’s a steep climb for proponents of legalized marijuana in Connecticut. The legislature’s Judiciary Committee killed a legalization bill without even holding a public hearing this year, and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy appears unalterably opposed. But the issue cleared one threshold Tuesday: It was the subject of an informational hearing.
April 5, 2016
Posted inPolitics
Session Notes: Using gay rights for economic development
Can strong gay rights laws be an economic development tool? A group of state legislators in Connecticut is trying to find out with a letter asking the Bank of America to consider relocating from Charlotte, N.C.
Posted inHealth
State reaches rebate deal on price of overdose reversal drug
The agreement comes after Attorney General George Jepsen questioned the drug maker about what he called a dramatic increase in the price of naloxone at a time when states were seeking to make it more available to first responders for use in opioid overdose emergencies.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
GE’s move is not about taxes, and no reason for budget cuts
Back in January, General Electric announced that it will be moving its headquarters from Fairfield to Boston, Mass. Since that announcement, corporate lobbyists have pushed the narrative that GE’s move was motivated by higher taxes and a so-called ‘bad business climate.’ And the move has been mentioned often to rationalize drastic and harmful budget cuts and austerity measures. But a smart look at the facts shows that GE’s move has been portrayed inaccurately and we have taken the wrong lessons for the experience.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Taxes on college endowments: Their time has come in Connecticut
Many of the richest universities in the country, sitting on billions of dollars in tax exempt endowments, receive through the tax laws government subsidies that greatly eclipse the appropriations received by public colleges. Hidden tax subsidies that increase inequality are not good policy. In contrast, Senate Bill 413 is reasonable in scope, fair in its goals, and represents advancement well within the current public policy thrust aiming to reassess the tax codes to help address America’s need for an educated citizenry and a qualified workforce.
Posted inHealth
Study: State employee wellness plan increased use of preventive care
A wellness program added to the state employee health plan as part of a controversial 2011 concession package led to significant increases in the use of preventive care and a drop in certain emergency room visits, but it’s still too soon to say if it will save the state money, according to a study published Monday in the journal Health Affairs.