The Judiciary Committee approved a bill Monday that will remove the statute of limitations for those accusing state employees of child sexual assault — a move several committee members worry could put the state’s finances at-risk. “Without question, this increases the state’s exposure to suit,” said Sen. John A. Kissel,R-Enfield, the Senate ranking Republican on the […]

The appeals process that slows down putting someone to death in Connecticut will not be sped up this legislative session, as the bill failed to make it out of the Judiciary Committee today. Rep. Michael P. Lawlor, D-East Haven, said he did not bring the bill before the committee for a vote because “it wasn’t on […]

While leaders of the General Assembly struggle–so far unsuccessfully-to close a half-billion dollar gap in this year’s state budget, a small group composed mainly of legislators has come up with a series of more modest proposals that could mean long-term savings for the state. Now the question is whether the legislature will take the time […]

Funding for the state’s social “safety net” programs would be increased by nearly $345 million over spending levels proposed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell in the budget bill approved by the legislature’s Appropriations Committee Thursday, paid for by an anticipated influx of federal money and levying a new hospital tax. The hike in the Department […]

Getting into the University of Connecticut’s highly competitive business school just got a lot easier for students at the state’s community colleges. On Wednesday UConn president Michael J. Hogan and Marc S. Herzog, chancellor of the state’s 12 community colleges, announced an agreement guaranteeing admission for community college graduates with a 3.3 GPA who have […]

The 600 Realtors who came to the State Capitol Wednesday couldn’t help but feel like they were being sucker punched when they heard legislators were moving full speed ahead to extend a tax on real estate sales. “They’re picking on us,” said Barry Rosa, vice president of the Connecticut Association of Realtors. “They are singling […]

With demand for safety net programs growing, the legislature’s Appropriations Committee on Thursday proposed increasing funding to state’s social services by $444 million. They also proposed a new hospital tax on providers to bring in $206.8 million for the coming year, which begins July 1. State Medicaid spending increases $67.8 million, but does cut $2.3 […]

Gov. M. Jodi Rell has asked the Department of Economic and Community Development to issue a report by April 15 of the economic impact of the national health care reform law. “Connecticut employees – in businesses large and small – face some steep costs associated with the federal health care reform bill.  I think it […]

Now that an overhaul of the national health care system has been signed into law, state officials and the health care industry are scrambling to determine what it means for Connecticut. “We are still digging through it,” said State Health Care Advocate Kevin Lembo. He estimates 260,000 people in Connecticut will gain coverage by 2014 […]

It was billed as “Municipal Action Day,” a time to “let your voice be heard” at the state Capitol. Instead, stunned town officials heard legislative leaders bickering over the state’s budget crisis, leaving them with little confidence they’d get any relief for their own fiscal problems. “We talk, talk, talk, but we never act,” said […]

Gov. M. Jodi Rell said she will veto any proposal that includes a tax on executive bonuses, a key component in the Democrat’s jobs bill. Rell wrote lawmakers Wednesday saying launching the tax would be “irresponsible” because there are questions whether it is even legal. If a court throws out the tax, the deficit would […]

A bill backed by 19 Senate Democrats that would tax executive bonuses is “likely constitutional”, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said today. The bill would affect employees who earned bonuses in excess of $1 million from eight firms in Connecticut that received money from the federal bailout last year known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Critics, […]

Halfway into a 20-year program to increase the use of renewable energy in Connecticut, leaders of the legislature’s energy committee want to drastically alter the program’s goals, saying it is not promoting investment in the state. “The bottom line is, (renewable energy) projects aren’t being built,” said Rep. Vickie O. Nardello, D-Bethany, co-chairman of the […]

Rep. Matthew J. Conway, Jr. is a confident lacrosse coach at Suffield High School. He is not as confident in his ability to diagnose a concussion. To play it safe, he benches players he suspects might have a concussion until a medical professional has cleared them and 24 hours has passed. “I have to tell […]

One legislative committee has rejected Keno gambling in the state, but another–the one that would have to come up with a revenue alternative if the proposal dies–isn’t ready to let go. “We will make our own decision on Keno,” said Rep. Cameron C. Staples, D-New Haven and co-chairman of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. […]