PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Vice President Mike Pence told the National Governors Association that the Trump administration is intent on saving Medicaid, albeit by shrinking its reach or sharing more costs with the states. The Democratic governors said the Trump strategy for making Medicaid financially sustainable would either bankrupt states or deny coverage to vulnerable Americans.
July 14, 2017 @ 4:38 pm
Posted inEducation
Test results: Stubborn achievement gaps unchanged
State Education Commissioner Dianna Wentzell told reporters her department is still digesting what to make of the largely stagnant statewide results. But, she added, “There is probably no educator in Connecticut who is satisfied with what’s going on with the achievement gap.”
Posted inMoney, Politics
House speaker: No vote on new CT budget Tuesday
The House of Representatives won’t be voting on a new, two-year budget when members return to the Capitol on Tuesday, House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, announced Friday.
Posted inPolitics
CT residents join others who blast White House voting panel
WASHINGTON — Connecticut voters were among those who provided public comment to the White House about the work of its voter fraud commission, and like most of those who weighed in, were highly critical of the effort.
Posted inEducation, Money
Malloy would cut town aid, early childhood education to patch budget hole
The governor, who sent his adjustments to legislative leaders Thursday, also would reduce state contributions to a supplemental retirement health care program for teachers, potentially boosting costs for future retirees.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Time for Connecticut lawmakers to do the right thing for the disabled
Connecticut’s legislature, on a bi-partisan basis, has so far failed to do its most important job — adopt a budget. In response, the Gov. Dannel Malloy implemented an executive order to keep the state running that minimized its impact on the State’s Department of Developmental Services employees while devastating our most vulnerable citizens. Leaders can attempt to minimize the amount of damage inflicted, but if you are an individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), this executive order is the shut off notice from the electric company.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
To fix Connecticut’s state budget, tax the rich!
Summer jobs for teenagers have been canceled, state college and university charges keep rising, and every area of public life is affected by the state’s budget crisis — all in the second wealthiest state in the country, with the second highest level of inequality. Connecticut’s budget shortfall is projected at about $2 billion per year. Yet, the wealthiest residents face a lower effective tax rate than the rest of us, and hundreds of millions are lost every year through corporate loopholes, special exemptions, legal tax avoidance, and outright tax evasion. If the wealthiest households paid at the same rate as the rest of us, more than $2 billion per year would be raised, erasing the deficit!
Posted inCT Viewpoints
A new approach to Connecticut juvenile justice — with better results
At any given time many children are in the care of Connecticut’s juvenile justice system. Everyone agrees their personal stories are troublesome, but it is also important to understand each story can be turned in a more positive direction if we as adults commit to helping each child based on their individual needs. This is the premise behind a series of recommendations the Children’s League of Connecticut (CLOC) has presented to the state Department of Children and Families(DCF), legislators and other policy-makers.
Posted inPolitics
Boughton: Income tax phase-out is one piece of 10-year plan
DANBURY — As he explores a third campaign for governor, Republican Mayor Mark Boughton is testing a message not seriously proffered in two decades: a call for elimination of the state’s tax on wages. He says it’s not a stunt, but voters will have to wait to hear how he thinks Connecticut could get by without nearly half its revenue.