WASHINGTON – With the help of members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday was nominated to be the Democratic candidate for the next Speaker of the House. But Pelosi still needs to win over some rebellious Democrats who want a change in leadership.
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 inPolitics
Murphy scores win in campaign against U.S. involvement in Yemen
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chris Murphy scored a decisive win Wednesday in his campaign to end U.S. military involvement in Yemen, aided by his colleague’s anger at how the Trump administration is responding to the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Posted inHealth
CVS says purchase of Aetna is done deal
CVS announced the completion of its purchase of Aetna on Wednesday, promising the new combined company would lead to “improved health outcomes and lower medical costs.”
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Hayes learning the ropes in Congress as part of a diverse freshman class
WASHINGTON – Cloistered in a hotel a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol, Rep.-elect Jahana Hayes and dozens of incoming members of the next Congress are learning the ropes of their new jobs and getting to know the colleagues they will work with – and sometimes fight with—next year.
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Hayes says she’ll support Pelosi, so do all other CT lawmakers
WASHINGTON – After saying during her campaign that she would not back her bid to lead House Democrats in the next Congress, Rep.-elect Jahana Hayes on Tuesday said she will support embattled House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. That makes support for Pelosi’s bid to hold the Speaker’s gavel unanimous among the members of the Connecticut delegation to the U.S. House.
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Conn. dairy farms caught up in Trump trade war
Connecticut’s dairy farmers, who were caught in the middle of President Donald Trump’s trade wars with other countries this year, have received little money from a federal mitigation program meant to compensate them for losses. “It’s a drop in the bucket,” said Seth Bahler, co-owner of Oakridge Dairy Farm in Ellington, of the trade mitigation payments.
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Blumenthal calls for hearing on whether Whitaker violated Hatch Act
WASHINGTON – Sen. Richard Blumenthal continued his campaign against acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker on Monday, requesting a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing into whether Whitaker violated the Hatch Act, a federal law that prohibits government employees from participating in political activities.
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CT Latinos voter turnout signals new political engagement
WASHINGTON – There was a significant jump in Latino participation in the midterm election across the nation, and most likely in Connecticut, too. As more of the state’s Latinos are politically engaged, there are also more calls from that growing community for a seat at the table of political power.
Posted inHealth
Lawmakers, Malloy administration wrangle over telemedicine
WASHINGTON – Connecticut’s congressional delegation is at odds with the Malloy administration over its failure to apply for an expansion of the HUSKY program that would give low-income residents access to new telemedicine services, especially for psychiatric care and substance abuse treatment.
Posted inJustice
Blumenthal sues to block Whitaker serving as U.S. Attorney General
WASHINGTON – Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined two other Senate Democrats on Monday in suing to block Matthew Whitaker from serving as President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general. The lawsuit argues that the Constitution’s Appointments Clause requires that the Senate confirm high-level federal government officials, including the Attorney General, before they exercise the duties of the office.
Posted inHealth
Access Health CT to protest new Trump abortion proposal
Connecticut’s Affordable Care Act exchange, Access Health CT, is protesting a Trump administration plan that would require the nation’s insurers to send a separate bill to consumers who purchase plans with abortion coverage.
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Blue wave that swamped New England endangers Yankee Republicans
Buffeted by political ill winds, New England’s Republicans in Congress moved toward the brink of extinction in last week’s midterm election, while Democrats made huge gains at all levels of state government offices. The “Trump effect” weakened the GOP in a region that was once known for a special brand of Republicanism, analyst say.
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Blumenthal considers suit to remove Whitaker as AG
WASHINGTON – Sen. Richard Blumenthal is among several Democrats exploring the idea of suing the Trump administration as a way to invalidate the appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general.
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Once Pelosi loyalists, some CT Dems now weighing support for her leadership
WASHINGTON – Connecticut’s all-Democratic delegation to the U.S. House have supported Rep. Nancy Pelosi as their leader in the past, but now some of those loyalists are giving that support some thought.
Posted inPolitics
Hayes not your typical freshman, will join group of black lawmakers with growing influence
WASHINGTON – When she’s sworn into the next Congress, Rep.-elect Jahana Hayes will not be your typical freshman lawmaker with limited influence. Instead, she will be joining a group with the outsized clout — and the ability to potentially block Nancy Pelosi’s bid to be re-elected Speaker of the House.