Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Big achievements, big disappointments and political musical chairs

  • Other
  • by Paul Stern
  • April 29, 2018
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

It was a week of big achievements for some, big disappointments for others; and, in Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District, musical chairs.

For the Connecticut “dreamers,” Wednesday night’s 91-59 passage by the House of a bill making certain undocumented immigrants eligible for college financial aid was the culmination of a long campaign and cause to rejoice. Gov. Dannel Malloy signed the bill Friday, calling it good policy and positive politics.

mark pazniokas :: ctmirror.org

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signs the Dreamers bill into law.

Similarly, the nomination of Richard A. Robinson to become the state’s first black chief justice gave hope to members of the legislature’s Black and Puerto Rican Caucus that the minority community’s concerns about racial disparities in criminal justice would be addressed.

There was also a little progress on improving the availability of affordable housing.

On the other hand, the Board of Regents for Higher Education and Mark Ojakian, president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, were, to use Ojakian’s word, “devastated” when their plan to consolidate the state’s 12 community colleges was rejected by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, was irritated when Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, his personal physician and embattled choice to head the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, withdrew his name from consideration following harsh criticism of his professional conduct. “I don’t want to put a man through a process like this.” Trump said. “It’s too ugly and disgusting.”

Neither was a majority of the Senate Judiciary Committee – including four Republicans – happy about Trump’s recent televised remarks that the Russia investigation is “a disgrace.” On a 14-7 vote (including that of Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal) they approved a bill that would (if it were ever passed) protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller from being fired without good cause.

On Friday Republicans on the U.S. House Intelligence Committee  issued their final report on  Russia’s involvement in the 2016 elections  — a report that generally clears the Trump campaign of any wrongdoing. But Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, said the 253-page document “does not correctly portray the harm done to the American people by the investigation’s premature cessation.”

Speaking of presidential elections, the Connecticut House held a close, but affirmative, vote on having the state join the interstate compact committing its seven electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote.

ctmirror.org

Rep. William A. Petit Jr., R-Plainville. He’s out.

In Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District, the cast of candidates vying to replace U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty was changing on a daily basis, starting when Dr. William Petit, R- Plainville, said he would not run on the Republican ticket. His announcement was dittoed by state Rep. Dan Carter, R-Bethel, who also decided he would rather seek re-election to his seat in the Connecticut legislature.

Not to worry, however, because their retreats made room for Simsbury Republican Liz Peterson and fellow Republican Ruby O’Neill of Southbury to announce their interest in the 5th District seat. On the Democratic side, Rabbi Shaul Praver, who served as spiritual leaders of Newtown’s Congregation Adath Israel for 13 years, has joined the race. Two others won’t: Sandy Hook Promise founders Nicole Hockley and Mark Barden.

Claude Albert :: CTMirror.org

Surrounded by Republican supporters, Ruby O’Neill announces her candidacy for the 5th congressional district seat. Behind her is her husband, State Rep. Arthur O’Neill.

The field in the race for governor also slimmed by one when Democrat Jonathan Harris dropped out and endorsed Ned Lamont, the candidate former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz appears to have sized up as her biggest competition. The race for state attorney general also lost one competitor when Rep. Michael D’Agostino, D-Hamden, dropped out and endorsed fellow Democrat William Tong.

In Connecticut budget news (which is seldom good news these days) House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, confirmed that the legislature’s move to prevent the City of Hartford’s bankruptcy will, temporarily at least, max out the state’s ability to borrow.

Republicans and Democrats are sharply divided on how the state should budget. While they share some common ground involving municipal aid and health care for the elderly and disabled, major disagreements persist over labor costs, higher education and other issues.

Problems in those disputed areas are likely to be painful to solve. Take, for example, the demands for higher wages and financial support for the workers who care for the disabled. They have voted to strike May 7 if legislators don’t approve an $11.4 million package recommended by the Malloy administration.

Neither party wants to fully fund the Medicare Savings Plan and have offered proposals that will cut off tens of thousands who’ve come to rely on the program.

On the revenue side, highway tolls, if they are ever approved, are years away at best, and so is a federal law that would allow Connecticut to collect millions in sales taxes from online retailers who sell goods here, said an angry Kevin Sullivan, commissioner of revenue services.

Meanwhile, there are other non-budget issues that are still on the agenda: a bill aimed at controlling high prescription drug costs.  Following the death of an autistic Hartford teen last year, the state’s child advocate also wants lawmakers to set up some form of regulations intended to protect the safety of children who are being home schooled.

State legislators also have yet to finalize the appointment of 32 judge nominees — the last two of which Malloy nominated Friday.

In Washington, Sens. Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, along with Reps. John Larson and Joe Courtney, are waiting for the results of an Inspector General’s investigation into why the Department of Interior is not acting on a request by Connecticut tribes to approve changes to their gaming compact needed to win state support for a new casino in East Windsor.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul Stern Paul is the part-time assistant editor and the primary handler of the Mirror's Viewpoints commentaries. He has more than 40 years of reporting and editing experience at newspapers in New Jersey, Florida and Connecticut. He worked 22 years at the Hartford Courant in various editing roles including as deputy state editor, assistant editor of Northeast Magazine, and as an associate editor at Courant.com.

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Best of 2019: Key Dems press bill to increase minority recruitment at Coast Guard Academy
by Ana Radelat

The bill is a response to allegations of discrimination and a racially hostile environment at the school.

Navy cuts number of EB Virginia-class subs in new contract
by Ana Radelat

Electric Boat wanted the Navy to include 10 subs, and possibly 11, in the so-called "Block 5" contract. But the Navy agreed to only nine.

Electric Boat facing mounting challenges as sub work ramps up
by Ana Radelat

There continue to be concerns about EB’s ability to build the new Columbia-class submarine alongside its smaller Virginia-class attack subs.

Talk of gun violence, little else
by Paul Stern

In national politics last week there was talk of little else than gun violence, white nationalism and gun control following the fatal shootings of 31 people in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas. There was little more than talk, too.

Politics and the ‘dark psychic force of collectivized hatred’
by Paul Stern

President Donald Trump insists he is not a racist, but 51 percent of Americans believe he is, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released last […]

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion One step Connecticut can take to address our maternal mortality crisis
by Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD

Uncertainty. Fear. Worry. These are just a few of the thoughts and emotions that run through the minds of almost every expecting parent. And for many expecting Black parents, those feelings can be more acute. That’s because for far too many, having a child is a life and death struggle.

Opinion Connecticut lawmakers on aid in dying: two decades of delay, deferral, obstruction
by Paul Bluestein, MD

Very soon, members of the Connecticut House and Senate will be voting on HB6425, - the Medical Aid in Dying bill. More than 20 years ago, Oregon implemented its Death with Dignity Act. Since then, Washington, Vermont, California, Montana, Colorado, Maine, Washington DC, Hawaii and most recently New Mexico have passed legislation authorizing medical aid in dying for terminally ill adults. But not Connecticut.

Opinion The intersection of race, class and gender in America’s childcare system: The class edition
by Georgia Goldburn

When Michelle Obama declared that she wanted to become “Mom in Chief,” she spoke to a sentiment shared by many women, i.e. the desire to […]

Opinion A progressive income tax to re-align Connecticut’s moral compass
by Ezra Kaprov

Redistribution of wealth and property is a fundamental and missing pillar of the hope for multi-racial democracy in the United States.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s […]

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is […]

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO