State government is on pace to close the books on the last fiscal year $393.3 million in the black – $260 million higher than the surplus projected when the new budget was adopted in early May – Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration reported today. The latest surplus projection, which also stands about $150 million above […]

One of the state’s largest labor coalitions, the Connecticut State Council of the Service Employees International Union, has endorsed Democratic gubernatorial contender Dan Malloy and his running mate, Nancy Wyman. The council, whose delegates represent the SEIU’s six affiliated unions involving about 55,000 public- and private-sector workers in Connecticut, voted Friday to back Malloy and […]

Michael C. Fedele has no problem drawing a line in the fiscal sand. For the Republican gubernatorial contender from Stamford, that means the enormous deficit looming over state government has to be closed without higher taxes, higher fees, or additional borrowing. There are no loopholes.   Facing the budget: Last in a series. “I don’t […]

Ending the “fee for service” model that encourages doctors to schedule unnecessary tests and patient visits would be a crucial first step toward reducing a state health care bill that ranks as one of the nation’s highest, according to Democratic gubernatorial contender Ned Lamont. The Greenwich businessman unveiled a health care plan this week that […]

The state’s largest health care workers union called on Gov. M. Jodi Rell this morning to intervene in its three-month-long strike against the Vernon-based owner of six Connecticut nursing homes. About 100 members of New England Health Care Employees Union, District 1199, picketed for an hour today outside of the governor’s residence on Prospect Street […]

There are all kinds of fiscal crises in state government. And on Tuesday, state Sen. Gary D. LeBeau wanted to know what kind of crisis Connecticut was in if it could afford to buy a soccer field for Middletown and a community arts center in Vernon – while staring at a monstrous budget deficit looming less […]

As Connecticut struggles to control the cost of retirement benefits, one item under consideration may be a health insurance program generous by state government standards and rare in the private sector: discounted lifetime coverage of retirees and the spouses of retirees who log 10 years of service at any time in their careers. A panel created […]

The biggest danger posed by the massive state budget deficit looming just 12 months away, according to Ned Lamont, is the uncertainty. Fear over what’s to come paralyzes businesses, municipal governments, and even households. Facing the budget: Fifth in a series. But when it comes to some of the largest pieces of the budget puzzle […]

Democrat George C. Jepsen announced this morning he has raised the preliminary funding necessary to qualify for a $750,000 grant from the state’s Citizens Election Program to support his bid for attorney general. The former state party chairman and former state Senate majority leader submitted records today at State Elections Enforcement Commission headquarters showing he […]

The Northwestern University study concluding that the pension funds of Connecticut and 19 other states will be broke by 2025 is fundamentally flawed, failing to account for future contributions to cover unfunded liabilities, according to the National Association of State Retirement Administrators. And state Treasurer Denise L. Nappier said Thursday that while Connecticut’s state employee […]

A Suffield prison inmate serving an 86-year sentence for sexual assault has been blocked by the state’s top correction official from obtaining names, addresses and other personal information of state Sen. John A. Kissel’s campaign contributors. Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield. Kissel, an Enfield Republican, said Friday that MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution inmate Richard Stevenson’s request was made […]

Gov. M. Jodi Rell reversed herself and acknowledged Wednesday that she sought Joseph Marie’s abrupt resignation as state transportation commissioner after an allegation of “inappropriate behavior.” After admitting in an interview with The Mirror that Marie left under pressure, her administration released a document saying that Marie’s record would show he resigned in “good standing,” […]

After five years of running deficits, Connecticut’s down-sized probate system has reported a new budget that projects returning a modest $3 million to state government 12 months from now. The $30.4 million plan reported to the General Assembly and Gov. M. Jodi Rell last week marks the first budget reflecting the dramatic consolidation ordered last […]

BRANFORD — Democratic gubernatorial contender Dan Malloy unveiled an environmental protection plan today that emphasizes investments in clean water, public transportation and brownfield remediation and redevelopment. Malloy, who announced the plan in conjunction with his running mate, state Comptroller Nancy Wyman, also said that while he supports wind turbine-based technology, he opposes locating windmills in Long […]