WASHINGTON — Rep. Joe Courtney’s staff recently put the finishing touches on a piece of government mail that sharply criticizes the House Republicans’ Medicare plan. But GOP officials have told the Connecticut Democrat that he can’t send it out to his constituents unless he softens the barbs in the piece. On Tuesday, Courtney, D-2nd District, […]
Deirdre Shesgreen
Posted inHealth, Money
Congress launches “wellness caucus”
There’s the Congressional Dairy Caucus. The Congressional Natural Gas Caucus. And now… the “Wellness Caucus.” No, it’s not dedicated to lawmakers’ physical well-being. “The whole idea is to put out ideas about employee wellness programs,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., a founding member. With so much focus on how to curb health care costs, the […]
Posted inNews
Texas tycoon, non-profit team up on state energy project
WASHINGTON — As T. Boone Pickens lobbies Congress to enact subsidies for the natural gas industry, the Texas oil and gas tycoon also is bringing his zeal for natural gas vehicles to Connecticut in a deal involving a non-profit corporation, two taxi companies and millions in stimulus dollars. Clean Energy Fuels Corp., a company founded […]
Posted inMoney, Politics
Woody Allen, the debt ceiling, and the congressional schedule
When discussing this year’s odd congressional schedule recently, Rep. Joe Courtney quoted Woody Allen’s famous phrase: “80 percent of success is showing up.” “At some point,” Courtney said, “in trying to get things done you have to have people here.” Hard to argue with that. By Courtney’s measure (or Woody Allen’s) it’s not clear how […]
Posted inNews
Himes calls for Weiner resignation after more photos surface over the weekend
WASHINGTON — Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, called today for Rep. Anthony Weiner’s resignation, making him the first in Connecticut’s congressional delegation to urge the New York congressman’s ouster over inappropriate photographs Weiner sent to women via Twitter. Weiner has so far resisted calls from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and others to give up […]
Posted inNews
Courtney, Himes demand Weiner resign over Twitter
WASHINGTON — Rep. Joe Courtney says he first realized at a Medicare town-hall meeting in Norwich exactly how big a problem Rep. Anthony Weiner’s salacious conduct on Twitter was going to be for House Democrats. The first question he fielded was about Weiner, not Medicare. “To me, that’s sort of is Exhibit A of what […]
Posted inPolitics
Murphy camp touts UAW nod, says more labor support to come
Chris Murphy’s bid for the U.S. Senate got a boost Monday with the endorsement from the United Auto Workers. Murphy’s campaign announced that the UAW Region 9A would back his campaign to succeed retiring Sen. Joseph Lieberman. “They become the first statewide organized labor union to endorse in the 2012 CT-SEN race,” Kenny Curran, Murphy’s […]
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
Lieberman outlines major Medicare proposal
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, stepped into the fray over Medicare today, outlining a proposal to dramatically change the government health care program for the elderly. “Medicare is hurtling toward its demise – our government is approaching a cataclysmic fiscal tipping point – while Washington is busy posturing for the next election,” Lieberman writes […]
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Financially, members of state delegation aren’t in the same boat
WASHINGTON–If Connecticut’s Congressional delegation was a boat club, Reps. Chris Murphy and Joe Courtney would be in dinghies. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Sen. Joseph Lieberman would be on yachts. None of the members would be sitting on an inflatable raft, let alone worrying about where the life vests are. The most recent financial disclosure forms […]
Posted inMoney, Politics
Delegation plans “Weekend Retreat” (i.e. fundraiser) at Foxwoods
Connecticut’s congressional delegation is planning a big get-together. The impetus? Raising campaign cash. All 5 of the state’s U.S. House members will be heading to the Foxwoods Resort Casino July 8th to 10th for a “Weekend Retreat.” The beneficiary of the event is Rep. Joe Courtney, according to the invitation, but there are ten “special […]
Posted inNews
Surgery centers hoping Larson bill increases Medicare revenue
WASHINGTON–Need a colonoscopy? Or cataract surgery? How about an operation on your finger or foot? Three decades ago, you probably would have had to go to a hospital, even for a minor surgical procedure. But more and more, such cases are being handled at free-standing facilities called ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). ASCs have the same […]
Posted inNews
Blumenthal’s veteran’s bill faces competition in Senate committee
WASHINGTON–Sen. Richard Blumenthal testified in favor of his sweeping veterans’ assistance legislation Wednesday, putting it on the radar of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. And the measure got a nod of support from key outside players, including top lobbyists for the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars who testified at Wednesday’s hearing. But […]
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New federal money available to battle chronic diseases
Federal health officials are preparing to dole out $40 million to states for comprehensive initiatives that combat chronic diseases. Part of the health care reform law, the new money is focused on reducing the nation’s five leading chronic disease-related causes of death and disability: heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis. To win the money, […]
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EMILY’s List backs Esty
In the crowded contest to represent Connecticut’s 5th congressional district, Elizabeth Esty got a little boost today that could help fuel her fundraising efforts. EMILY’s List, the fundraising group that recruits and supports Democratic pro-choice female candidates, put Esty “On the List,” a tally of promising candidates for the 2012 cycle. It’s short of an […]
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Pratt officials come to Washington–but not to lobby against GE provision
Top executives from Pratt & Whitney made the trek from Hartford to Washington on Monday, in part to brief defense reporters on the status of the company’s Joint Strike Fighter engine-the F135. During the 2-hour session at a swanky Washington club, Bennett Croswell, president of Pratt’s military engines division, downplayed the effort by Pratt’s rival, […]