WASHINGTON–Can Congress come up with a real cure for the maladies of the Medicare physician payment system? Lawmakers have proven themselves adept at applying Band-Aid solutions, passing repeated short-term fixes to stave off steep payment cuts to doctors who treat Medicare patients. But physicians in Connecticut and across the country have said these temporary steps, […]

WASHINGTON–In an emotional farewell speech to the Senate Tuesday, Chris Dodd made a passionate plea for restoring political civility and preserving the chamber’s traditions, as he also sought to put the finishing touches on his own career as Connecticut’s longest-serving senator. Dodd opened his final “valedictory” remarks by evoking the image of himself as a […]

The Senate’s top Republican, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, had some unusually effusive praise for Sen. Chris Dodd’s farewell Senate speech on Tuesday. McConnell called Dodd’s remarks “one of the most important speeches in the history of the Senate.” He added that no one else has “so cogently” laid out why the uniqueness of the Senate, […]

Sen. Joe Lieberman won’t be hard to find on Wednesday. He’ll be on Fox News, then MSNBC, first thing in the morning. And then both again at lunch. His reason for blanketing the airwaves? Touting the newly released Pentagon report on the impact (minimal, the study says) of repealing the ban on gays serving openly in […]

Is retiring Sen. Chris Dodd Hollywood material? The Motion Picture Association of America apparently thinks so. A report in the New York Times this morning says that Dodd, who will be leaving Congress next month after more than three decades, is one candidate under consideration to become the MPAA’s top lobbyist. One problem: Dodd has […]

Rep. Rosa DeLauro will vie to keep her top post on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, her spokeswoman said Monday. The 3rd District congresswoman currently serves as co-chair of the steering committee thanks to an appointment from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In the aftermath of the elections, Democrats voted to curb Pelosi’s power to […]

WASHINGTON–Lawmakers will tiptoe into a political minefield this week when President Barack Obama’s bipartisan debt commission releases detailed recommendations for tax increases, spending cuts, and other painful steps that could put the nation on firmer fiscal ground. And within Connecticut’s congressional delegation, the fault lines already are emerging. Liberals, including Reps. Rosa DeLauro and John […]

WASHINGTON–Proponents of an alternate engine for the Joint Strike Fighter are mounting an 11th hour lobbying effort to win fresh funding for the project, even as lawmakers in the lame-duck Congress prepare an austere budget. Lobbyists for General Electric are working with top lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee and other key panels to […]

Thanksgiving won’t be too celebratory for Michael Sohn, who stole more than $252,000 in campaign money from his long-time boss, Chris Shays, the former congressman from Connecticut’s 4th District. Sohn is set to start serving his 37-month prison sentence on Nov. 30. And yesterday, the Federal Election Commission unveiled a decision ordering him to repay […]

WASHINGTON–At first glance, the stars seem to be aligned for proponents of repealing the 17-year-old ban on gays serving openly in the military. The Senate’s Democratic leader has promised to bring it up for another vote when Congress returns from its Thanksgiving break. Sen. Joseph Lieberman says he’s got the 60 votes necessary to overcome […]

Has the holiday spirit of cooperation and gratitude taken hold when it comes to the tax cut debate in Washington? Certainly not. But the White House is talking about Christmas shopping as a way to prod lawmakers to come together on this contentious issue. “As we get into the Christmas shopping season especially, there’s a […]

WASHINGTON–The University of Connecticut spent $340,000 to lobby federal officials so far this year, an effort that’s helped the school snag more than $10 million in earmarks to fund key projects. But all that money may get zeroed out by the lame-duck Congress. That’s because lawmakers are likely to ditch their pending appropriations bills–which now […]

WASHINGTON-As the clock runs out on Congress’ lame duck session, the fate of a controversial Connecticut judicial nominee, Robert Chatigny, appears increasingly in doubt. His nomination remains in limbo even though the court he hopes to join is operating under a “judicial emergency,” with three long-pending vacanies waiting to be filled. Chatigny, now a District Court judge […]

Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s position at the helm of a coveted House committee appeared increasingly uncertain as Democrats prepare to shift into the minority.   House Democrats agreed to a proposal Thursday that strips soon-to-be House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of her power to appoint top allies, including DeLauro, to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, […]

Exhibit A for the perils of instant global communications: the accidental twitter sent out via Sen. Chris Dodd’s account today.