Washington — Raising taxes on hedge fund managers, an idea that has plenty of popular support but has failed to gain traction, is under scrutiny in Washington again. President Obama last week proposed ending the current tax treatment given to hedge fund managers, whose income is considered “carried interest” and taxed at the capital gains […]
Ana Radelat
Ana has written about politics and policy in Washington, D.C.. for Gannett, Thompson Reuters and UPI. She was a special correspondent for the Miami Herald, and a regular contributor to The New York TImes, Advertising Age and several other publications. She has also worked in broadcast journalism, for CNN and several local NPR stations. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Journalism.
Posted inNews
Connecticut lawmakers hope for new era of earmarks
Washington — Hoping to stir public outrage against a rival, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are brawling over who is responsible for the most “earmarks,” special projects inserted into spending bills. While the presidential hopefuls portray earmarks as a corrupting influence on politics and a waste of taxpayer funds, Connecticut lawmakers, among others, are taking […]
Posted inHealth
Connecticut insurers wary of Obama’s contraceptive plan
In coming up with his compromise in the dispute over whether religious-affiliated employers should have to provide contraceptive coverage for their employees, President Obama failed to consider the concerns of insurance companies who would be required to provide contraceptive coverage for free.
Posted inNews
Obama budget mixed bag for Connecticut
Washington — President Obama’s new budget request would be tough on Connecticut’s hedge fund managers and its defense industry. But it could provide a lift for the state’s community colleges, small manufacturers and doctors. Obama on Monday sent Congress a $3.8 trillion budget for 2013 that’s likely to intensify election-year battles over spending and taxes. […]
Posted inNews
Connecticut bishops cool to turnabout on contraceptives
Washington –President Obama’s turnaround on his contraceptives policy for religiously affiliated institutions has failed to win over the Catholic bishops in Connecticut, but it won praise from prominent state Democrats who were drawn into an election-year debate that the party hopes will fade. “(It) indicates that (Obama) saw a need to review the current edict […]
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Connecticut will play big money role in presidential race
Washington — Benjamin Buswell, a Granby resident, was concerned enough about the Obama campaign’s fundraising strength that, last summer, he sent Republican Mitt Romney $2,500. “I read articles about the amount of money that is going to be raised by the Democratic Party, and I wanted to help Romney,” Buswell, the innovation manager at Hartford Insurance, […]
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Connecticut lawmakers on front line of contraceptive battle
When President Obama was blasted by House Republicans this week for including contraceptive services in the health care reform act’s mandate on preventive care for women, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., jumped to the president’s defense. House Republicans say requiring religious hospitals and colleges to offer contraceptive benefits is a […]
Posted inNews
Senate hopefuls raising cash in different ways
Washington — In the political money chase in the race to fill retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman’s seat, deep-pocketed Linda McMahon began the year with the least amount of money. But given that she spent $50 million of her own money on her failed 2008 Senate bid, McMahon should be able to manage a slight cash […]
Posted inNews
DeLauro defends food stamps–and Obama
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro is the latest Democrat to publicly seethe at Newt Gingrich’s repeated characterization of President Obama as “the best food-stamp president in American history.” “He’s demonizing people and demonizing a social safety net,” said DeLauro, 3rd District, at a news conference held by food stamp supporters Thursday. She told the story of […]
Posted inNews
Blumenthal makes sure insider traders in Congress lose pensions
Thanks to Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., members of Congress who enrich themselves on insider knowledge won’t only face the threat of jail time — they’ll also lose their congressional pensions. The Senate voted 96-3 Thursday on a bill that would make sure the federal law that prohibits insider trading extends to members of Congress. Blumenthal […]
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Retiring Lieberman still collecting campaign cash
Washington — Sen. Joe Lieberman may be retiring from Congress, but he hasn’t stopped raising campaign donations for his leadership PAC. Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, raised more than $50,000 for his Reuniting Our Country political action committee after he announced his retirement in January of last year. Lieberman established the Reuniting Our Country PAC as […]
Posted inNews
Malloy tells Congress: Skip the partisanship and help the states
Washington — It was the tale of two governors. Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, was expected to provide stark contrast to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder at a House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing Wednesday on job creation. Instead, the governors were often on the same page. “There were many cases where Gov. Snyder […]
Posted inNews
As lawmakers consider STOCK Act, some say it’s not tough enough
Washington — With public approval at an all-time low, Congress is beginning work on a new ethics law aimed at rooting out insider trading. But some say it’s not tough enough, and others say it’s not needed. The Senate began debate on the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge, or STOCK, Act, today, which would bar […]
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy in Washington to promote his record
During a whirlwind two-day visit to Washington, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has been asked by two very different groups to talk about his brief record in the governor’s office. Although he was inaugurated only last year, Malloy was asked by Governing magazine to be its keynote speaker Tuesday for its “Outlook in the States & […]
Posted inNews
DOD considering base closures, cuts in subs, fighters
Washington — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s vision for a “smaller, leaner” military could put the Naval Submarine Base New London on the chopping block and trim billions of dollars from Connecticut’s defense industry. Panetta on Thursday said the Pentagon will absorb $487 billion in defense cuts over the next 10 years by shrinking ground forces […]