In a recent wide-ranging interview over lunch, The Connecticut Mirror pressed outgoing Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, the longest serving naval chief in 100 years, about the future of submarine warfare, delays in the F-35 joint strike fighter program and why the Pentagon wants another round of base closings.
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 inHealth, Politics
Aetna’s withdrawal from exchanges is fodder in White House race
WASHINGTON — Aetna’s decision to withdraw from most Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges became the latest debating point in the race for the White House Tuesday.
Posted inPolitics
Trump, Clinton kick off battle for Connecticut
Updated 3:25 p.m.
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s plans to hold a rally in Connecticut this weekend will rev up the campaign season in Connecticut, sharpening the state’s focus on the race for the White House. Meanwhile Connecticut Democrats urged state Republicans Friday to repudiate Trump.
Posted inPolitics
Trump to hold Saturday rally in Connecticut
WASHINGTON — GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump plans to hold a rally at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield on Saturday evening, veering from appearances in key swing states like Florida and Pennsylvania to try to bolster his support in a “true blue” state.
Posted inPolitics
Shays joins ‘Republicans for Hillary’ campaign
WASHINGTON — Former GOP Rep. Chris Shays was one of 50 prominent Republicans on Wednesday to launch “Together for America,” a group that supports Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s bid for the presidency. Shays said he decided to support Hillary Clinton, instead of this party’s nominee Donald Trump, for president after watching the national parties’ conventions..
Posted inPolitics
Murphy accuses Trump of Clinton assassination threat
WASHINGTON — GOP White House candidate Donald Trump provoked another uproar Tuesday by saying “Second Amendment people” can stop Hillary Clinton from appointing judges to the Supreme Court – a statement Clinton supporters like Sen. Chris Murphy called an assassination threat. Trump spokesmen said their candidate was referring only to action at the polls.
Posted inNews
Outgoing Navy secretary still urging a base-closing round
WASHINGTON — Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said submarines have become more important to the national defense and the Navy has less excess capacity than the other services, but he also said all Navy facilities would be on the table, even sub bases, if there were a new base-closing round.
Posted inPolitics
DeLauro visits Afghanistan after a stay in Italy
WASHINGTON – Pivoting from a taxpayer-funded trip to Italy this week with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Rosa DeLauro visited Afghanistan this week to talk to soldiers and the nation’s officials.
Posted inPolitics
Corey hopes third try is charm in ousting Larson
WASHINGTON — Since he was first elected to represent a Hartford-based congressional district in 1998, Rep. John Larson has not had a serious challenge from a GOP opponent and – if fundraising and history are any measures – it looks like his winning record will continue this year. Yet Matthew Corey, a business owner from Manchester, says Larson has failed in a key mission – stopping the bleeding of jobs in the 1st District. He hopes his third try at unseating Larson is a charm.
Posted inHealth
CT Zika-fighting efforts could feel pinch if Congress doesn’t act
WASHINGTON — Connecticut has received nearly $1 million this week from the federal government to combat the Zika virus – enough for now, state officials say, but not if the crisis worsens. Meanwhile, the blame game continues in Washington over who is responsible for holding up more than $1 billion that could bolster states’ efforts to fight the disease.
Posted inHealth, Justice
Aetna offers divestitures, Cigna looking at its options
WASHINGTON — Aetna and Humana said Tuesday they have an agreement to sell Medicare Advantage business covering 290,000 people to rival insurer Molina if their planned merger is allowed to be completed. Aetna also said it is halting 2017 plans to expand participation on public exchanges and is reviewing all of its current participation on Affordable Care Act exchanges.
Posted inTransportation
CT split on rail overhaul; Malloy says repairs should come first
WASHINGTON — There is split opinion in Connecticut on ambitious proposals to overhaul rail service in the Northeast Corridor, with some preferring to put resources into a coastal route to Boston and others backing an inland route that runs through Hartford with a new stop near Storrs.
Posted inPolitics
Hillary Clinton accepts nomination, steps into history
PHILADELPHIA — On a night choreographed to mark the moment as an overdue breakthrough for women, Hillary Rodham Clinton accepted the Democratic nomination for president Thursday, opening what promises to be a bruising campaign against one of the most unconventional candidates ever to run for president, Donald J. Trump.
Posted inPolitics
Dems set to reform rules on superdelegates that aided Clinton
PHILADELPHIA — As Hillary Clinton accepts her party’s nomination Thursday evening, the future of hundreds of “superdelegates” who helped her become her party’s presidential candidate remains in doubt.
Posted inTransportation
Amtrak favors one rail overhaul plan, Old Lyme pans another
WASHINGTON – Amtrak is backing an ambitious plan proposed by the Federal Railroad Administration to overhaul rail transportation in the Northeast corridor, a proposal that would cost more than $300 billion. An alternative proposal for a new line through Old Lyme and other shoreline towns drew opposition.