With no strategy to defend his tolls proposal, Gov. Ned Lamont ceded three days of news cycles to a rapidly mobilized opposition of Republicans, the trucking industry and small businesses.
February 19, 2019
Higher education proponents hope study makes the case to invest in CSCU
The day before Gov. Lamont releases his first budget, CSCU officials told lawmakers an economic analysis shows the system pumped $11.1 billion in income into the state’s economy in 2017.
Lamont seeks giveback from future state retirees
Gov. Lamont will seek concessions that could potentially reduce benefits to retired workers by more than $300 million per year.
CT suit against Trump border wall seeks to protect National Guard funds
Diversion of federal funds to build a border wall may impact Connecticut less than other states, but state says interests are aligned.
Will Lamont keep transportation system afloat until toll receipts arrive?
Timing is everything. The governor wants to use tolls to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild Connecticut’s transportation infrastructure in a few years at the same time he plans to cut borrowing now.
30-30-30 is feasible
With the collapse of yet another high-speed-rail megaproject, this time in California, and with pension and debt obligations in Connecticut stretching to the horizon, no one could blame the public or state legislators for doubting Gov. Ned Lamont’s announced goal, dubbed 30-30-30, of 30-minute travel times by rail between paired cities: Hartford and New Haven, New Haven and Stamford, Stamford and New York City.
CT’s window to rake in big bucks from pot could be closing
Connecticut could take in as much as $160 million a year by legalizing pot, but if it beats neighboring states to the finish line it might be able to double that revenue.
Fact checking the CSCU reorganization
It has been nearly nine years since the Connecticut Legislature approved Gov. Dannel Malloy’s reorganization of the four regional universities, 12 community colleges and an online college into one system, the Connecticut State College and University System. With the inauguration of a new governor and a newly appointed Connecticut Legislature Education Committee, it is wise to review the original premise and to analyze the progress that has been made.