New Haven State Rep. Juan Candelaria got to see firsthand last week the face of opposition to his proposal to legalize recreational use of marijuana: It is suburban. And possibly wearing braces.
February 2018
Posted inHealth, Money
Trump’s budget swings at drug prices with a glancing blow
President Donald Trump’s new budget proposal flirts with combating high prescription drug prices, but industry watchers say the tweaks to Medicare and Medicaid do little more than dance around the edges of lowering the actual prices of drugs.
Posted inHealth, Justice
California’s regulators to investigate Aetna’s medical coverage decisions
Both of California’s health insurance regulators said they will investigate how Hartford-based Aetna Inc. makes coverage decisions, as the lawsuit of a California man who is suing the nation’s third-largest insurer for improper denial of care headed for opening arguments.
Posted inJustice, Politics
School massacre provokes calls for ‘red flag’ laws like one CT pioneered
WASHINGTON — The school shooting in Parkland, Fla., has opened a debate on whether more states should do what Connecticut was first to do — pass laws that allow the confiscation of weapons from those who are believed to be a danger to others and themselves.
Posted inMoney
Bond commission approves economic development funds
The State Bond Commission approved financing Friday for a wide array of economic development initiatives and the first wave of relief for homeowners struggling with crumbling foundations.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Senate easily confirms Durham for CT U.S. Attorney
WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed John Durham as Connecticut’s new U.S. Attorney on a unanimous vote late Thursday. “John Durham is a fierce, fair prosecutor,” Connecticut’s Democratic senators said.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Saying no to a tax break for the rich in Connecticut
Gov. Dannel Malloy’s proposed budget gives a tax break to the rich.
Here’s what it is:
He advocates extending the 529 college savings plans, called CHET (Connecticut Higher Education Trust), to savings plans that can be used for K-12 education as well as college. As reported in the well-researched and comprehensive article in The CT Mirror by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas on Jan. 16, the state currently allows parents to avoid paying state income taxes each year on up to $10,000 that they put into a college savings account. In addition, they don’t have to pay taxes on the earned income when the money is withdrawn to pay for college.
Posted inCT Viewpoints, Talking Transportation
The Hudson River tunnels should have been done by now
It should have been done by now. 2018 was the expected completion date of the new railroad tunnels under the Hudson River first proposed in 2009. At the time the $9 billion project was the biggest infrastructure project in the country. Now it’s just a footnote to history. Why do rail tunnels from New York’s Penn Station to New Jersey matter to us here in Connecticut? Because they are the weakest but most crucial link in the northeast corridor, the $50 billion heart of the US economy. Imagine trying to get to Philadelphia or Washington without Amtrak running through our state, into those tunnels and to points south.
Posted inPolitics
U.S. Senate fails to protect ‘dreamers’
WASHINGTON — Congress proved it is as stalemated on immigration as it is on gun control Thursday, as the Senate failed to advance any of three bills that would protect young immigrants known as “dreamers” from deportation. Sen. Chris Murphy blamed his Republican colleagues for the failure to prevent a looming immigration crisis.
Posted inPolitics
Malloy: Connecticut’s angry prophet of mass shootings
Over the more than five years since Sandy Hook, the governor of Connecticut has acted as the Cassandra of gun control, the angry prophet destined to be ignored, at least in the ranks of the NRA and Congress. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy first warned America two days after 26 children and staff died in Sandy Hook School that mass shootings were coming to your schools, your children. He was at it again Thursday.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Another mass shooting? CT lawmakers say don’t expect Congress to act
WASHINGTON – Once again there’s been a mass shooting, at another school no less, and Washington once again has become the center of the debate on how to respond to these continuing massacres. But few expect any action.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
On the Parkland massacre: ‘Thoughts and prayers are not enough. We must do something now’
It is with profound sorrow and empathy that we try to understand and come to terms with the massacre that occurred at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Valentine’s Day of all days. It is unthinkable that, once again, children and adults were shot and killed at a school, with at least 17 people dead and more wounded. We mourn for the victims and the survivors and reach out to all of their families who will be forever changed by this brutal act of violence.
Posted inHealth
Wadleigh to step down as Access Health CEO
James Wadleigh, CEO of Connecticut’s health insurance exchange, Access Health CT, will step down from his post in April. He has worked at Access Health CT since 2012 and became the organization’s chief executive in 2015.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Cities and towns press for release of road repair funds
While the administration has not refused to release the Town Aid Roads grant payments, it has warned that funding could be stalled until legislators stabilize a state transportation program headed for insolvency by next fiscal year.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
A prescription for a better health care system for Bezos, Buffett and Dimon
As a primary care physician who’s worked in the trenches for 31 years, I’d like to offer some advice to Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett and Jamie Dimon as they prepare to tackle the health care system. If you want to improve health, increase access and lower the cost of health care, you need to emphasize […]