Updated 5:27 p.m.
WASHINGTON – In a strongly worded letter to Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and several other Democrats, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, have asked the company to explain why it entered into a “risky” merger deal with Humana that now makes it financially unable to sell policies in 11 state health insurance exchanges.
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.
Feds’ undisclosed ‘preferred route’ for rail lines sparks outrage
WASHINGTON – While the federal government was spending months soliciting feedback from the public on several alternatives for overhauling the railroads in the Northeast corridor, it had already identified a preferred plan that would dramatically change rail travel in Connecticut.
CT financial industry that backed Romney shunning Trump
WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney raised more than $1.5 million from people connected to Connecticut’s financial services industry, but few of those deep-pocketed donors are giving to Donald Trump. An analysis by the Connecticut Mirror shows that, as of the end of July, Trump had only raised about $11,000 from that sector.
Blumenthal calls for EpiPen antitrust probe
WASHINGTON – Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Tuesday asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether EpiPen manufacturer Mylan broke anti-trust laws when it gave away or sold its product at discounted prices to schools.
Malloy raises money, and profile, as head of DGA
WASHINGTON — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is proving to be an able fundraiser as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, but he’s not been in demand as campaigner in a year when many Democrats in hot races have shifted to the right of the Connecticut governor, touting fiscal conservatism, support for welfare reform and even their “A” ratings from the NRA.
EpiPen lobbying campaign targeted Connecticut
WASHINGTON – Connecticut, one of 11 states that approved a law requiring schools to stock EpiPens, is on drug maker Mylan’s sizable lobbying list. According to the center, Mylan, under fire for its steep price hikes of the EpiPen, expanded its lobbying presence in state houses to Connecticut and 35 additional states between 2010 to 2014.
A South Windsor native’s ‘pang of guilt’ touched off EpiPen war
Though her use of an online petition, Mellini Kantayya, touched off a furor over the rapid price hikes in the cost of EpiPens, the auto-injector that delivers a drug that counters the effects of a potentially fatal allergic reaction. She hopes the reaction will open the door to greater scrutiny of the pharmaceutical industry.
Blumenthal, others who helped sales of EpiPen, want probe of price hikes
WASHINGTON — Like other lawmakers who are now calling for an investigation of the massive price hikes in price hikes of EpiPens, Sen. Richard Blumenthal backed legislation that encouraged schools to stock the auto injector that delivers a drug that counters the effects of a fatal allergic reaction.
CT defense industry hurt by Congress’ inaction on spending bill
WASHINGTON – Connecticut lawmakers are facing a major obstacle in their attempts to boost the number of helicopters, airplane engines and submarines made by the state’s defense contractors: greater than-ever congressional gridlock over the defense budget.
Challenger Carter steadily attacks, but Blumenthal remains aloof
WASHINGTON — The campaign tactics of Sen. Richard Blumenthal and his Republican challenger, state Rep. Dan Carter, are as different as they can be in politics. Blumenthal has largely ignored his challenger, while Carter is waging a death-by-a-thousand-cuts campaign, launching a blizzard of attacks.
Analysts: Manafort departure won’t right floundering Trump campaign
WASHINGTON — The departure of New Britain native Paul Manafort from Donald Trump’s campaign on Friday isn’t likely to help revive a candidate who is plagued by problems, analysts say, but it will tone down distracting noise.
As some quit exchanges, insurers press for changes in ACA
WASHINGTON — Aetna’s decision to abandon 11 state Affordable Care Act marketplaces combined with the shrinking participation of other insurers has prompted Washington advocates to look for new ways to strengthen state marketplaces like Connecticut’s Access Health CT. Republicans, meanwhile, have renewed their calls for the ACA’s repeal.
Murphy presses bill that would force release of Trump tax returns
WASHINGTON — Since Donald Trump has declined to release his tax returns, Sen. Chris Murphy is backing a way to make them public – a bill that would force the issue. The effort is part of a renewed Democratic campaign over Trump’s tax filings.
Malloy, Cuomo face off over dumping in Long Island Sound
WASHINGTON – New York officials say a plan to dump dredged material in eastern Long Island Sound is potentially harmful to the ecology and tourism, but Connecticut supporters say it’s key to the state’s economic development and to keeping Naval Submarine Base New London off a base closure list.
Aetna said it would pull back from exchanges if merger wasn’t approved
WASHINGTON — Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini told the Justice Department the insurer would have to pull back from the Affordable Care Act’s state insurance exchanges if a proposed merger deal with Humana was not approved, provoking strong reaction on Capitol Hill.

