Connecticut’s governor and its commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, who played a role in legalizing gay marriage as a state Supreme Court justice in 2008, marked Adoption Awareness Month on Monday by highlighting the state’s outreach to same-sex couples as potential adoptive parents of children in foster care.
2017
Posted inJustice, Politics
Malloy says many accept mass shootings rather than gun control
The fatal shootings of 26 worshippers Sunday at a church in Sutherland Springs, Tex., are a price many Americans are willing to pay before accepting limits on their ability to purchase and own firearms, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Monday.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Let’s stick with Standard Time
“Rise and shine! Time to get up!”
“But why, Daddy? It’s still dark out.”
That was the exchange which started my day. It’s a good question, why should we have to get up when it’s still dark? That goes against our instincts. It’s in our nature to sleep when it’s dark and wake up when it’s light. Why on Earth would we go against our nature?
The answer, of course, is Daylight Savings Time.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
When the right thing is also the smart thing
I have spent my entire career in the nonprofit sector. During most of those 40 years, I have worked hard to build strong ties to the business community, but my rationale for doing so has evolved. As a trained social worker, I used to argue that businesses should support community efforts because it was simply the right thing to do. Today, with a deeper appreciation for the needs and motivations of business, I believe that private sector support for nonprofits is not only good for the community, but it is very good for business as well. And the research seems to back me up.
Posted inPolitics
Democrats hoping that, thanks to Trump, not all politics are local
NEW BRITAIN — This racially diverse, blue-collar city of 73,000 and its young Republican mayor, Erin Stewart, offer a test and a target for Democrats exploring whether anger at President Trump can be constructively harnessed, first in Tuesday’s municipal elections and then next year in the fight over control of state government in Connecticut. It is one of 32 contests for mayor, 93 for first selectman and scores of down-ballot races.
Posted inMoney
Economist Gioia: ‘Historic’ state budget will boost business confidence
A vice president and economist with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, Peter Gioia has spent the past 18 years with the state’s chief business lobby, managing its research department and tracking Connecticut’s economy through a quarterly survey. In this week’s Sunday Conversation he talks about the recently approved, bipartisan state budget; the long struggle to adopt it, and its impact on Connecticut’s business community.
Posted inNews
A week of drama, terror, resignation and new blood
The week started badly for President Donald Trump – even worse for his former campaign manager Paul Manafort – then got complicated and more difficult for everyone. In Connecticut, the new and overdue budget began taking effect.
Posted inJustice
New Haven police rolling out with new body cams
Thirty New Haven police officers have begun their training on when to turn on their new body-worn cameras — the start of a technological shift in how they patrol the city — and one that police officials call a step toward transparency, accountability and trust.
Posted inHealth, Money
Senators introduce bill to reduce ‘completely preventable waste’
Two U.S. senators have introduced legislation requiring federal agencies to come up with solutions to the waste caused by oversized eyedrops and single-use drug vials, which is estimated to cost billions of dollars a year.
Posted inMoney
CT-N goes into reruns, debate over its future untelevised
It started so well, with mutual respect and shared ambition. But the 18-year marriage of the Connecticut General Assembly and the Connecticut Public Affairs Network ended Friday, each finally acknowledging that the growing tensions of recent months over the operation of CT-N had hardened into irreconcilable differences over money and mission. CT-N apparently will survive, but in what form and under whose management is uncertain.
Posted inHealth, Politics
GOP, Dems collide over funding of health centers, HUSKY B
WASHINGTON — With scant support from Democrats, the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday approved a bill that would authorize new spending for a health care program that covers about 17,000 children in Connecticut, and for the state’s community health centers, which serve many uninsured and Medicaid patients. But many are calling the bill dead on arrival in the Senate because it would take money from other health programs.
Posted inEducation
500 kids fleeing Hurricane Maria’s wrath now in CT schools
Most of them – 85 percent – showed up in the state’s lowest-achieving districts, which already are grappling with high concentrations of high-need students.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Our hokus-pokus, smoke and mirror, Three-card Monte budget
The Connecticut legislature has finally agreed upon a two-year budget and Gov. Dannel Malloy has signed it into law — minus a hospital funding mechanism which he deleted with a line-item veto. Part of the details say “all individuals with a valid Connecticut license plate will be exempted from paying parking fees at state parks.” However, “A $10 surcharge on motor vehicle registrations will go to support parks. It is expected to raise $8 million this year and $16 million next year, but $2.6 million will be transferred to [the] general fund each year.”
Posted inCT Viewpoints
The difference between raising tax rates and raising taxes
There is a difference between raising tax rates and raising taxes. An increase in tax rates on the rich or anyone else does not always lead to increased government revenues. Historically, almost the opposite has occurred. Over 50 years ago, President Kennedy lowered tax rates and Federal revenues grew dramatically. President Reagan did the same thing with a similar result after he took office.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Don’t let terrorists hijack Islam
As Ahmadiyya Muslim Americans, we pray with broken hearts for the innocent lives lost in Manhattan after yet another terrorist attack on our country’s soil. We condemn such cowardly incursions and wage the greater spiritual jihad of peace and justice to reverse radicalization and prevent pretenders from hijacking our unifying faith.