Senate Republicans voted as a bloc Tuesday to deny the confirmation of Andrew J. McDonald as chief justice of Connecticut Supreme Court, stopping the ascent of a political and legal trailblazer for the gay community, a factor that opponents insisted was irrelevant and supporters said could not be ignored. Sen. Joan Hartley of Waterbury was the lone Democrat to vote against McDonald’s confirmation, which failed 19 to 16.
March 27, 2018 @ 4:20 pm
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Republican drive to turn Connecticut red will hurt them
Today the Connecticut Senate Republicans intend to vote down the nomination of Justice Andrew J. McDonald as chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. Why? Senator Len Fasano’s assertion that McDonald being gay is not why they are rejecting him is credible. Yet, being aware that his sexual orientation makes McDonald more vulnerable to attack, they have taken advantage of that.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
The national popular vote won’t solve the problem
The debate over a proposed compact in which Connecticut would cast its seven electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote is missing the forest through the trees. The problem isn’t that presidents win despite the popular vote. The problem is that presidents win despite not winning a majorities in the states. That may seem like a distinction without a difference, but it’s not.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Advice for would-be candidates — from a candidate
An open letter to anyone thinking about running for office: My name is Micah Welintukonis. I was medically retired from the Army almost two years ago after being shot, then subsequently taking a direct hit from a suicide bomber on July 9, 2012. Some of the injuries I sustained were over two dozen pieces of shrapnel in my left arm, shrapnel in my abdomen and face, and a mild concussion. I was awarded the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation with Valor, and the Combat Medic Badge for my actions that day. I am running as an unaffiliated candidate for governor of Connecticut.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Community college consolidation is a risky experiment
The Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education continues its push to consolidate the 12 state community colleges into one, having most recently just submitted a necessary change proposal to the regional accreditor, NEASC, for their approval. Promoters of the plan have, among other things, circulated a recent Chronicle of Higher Education article that features the experiment in Maine to carry out their own version of consolidation.