A last-minute boost in state funding won’t stave off a looming fiscal crisis for Connecticut’s public colleges and universities, the Board of Regents for Higher Education reported Thursday.
Keith M. Phaneuf
Keith has spent most of his four decades as a reporter specializing in state government finances, analyzing such topics as income tax equity, waste in government and the complex funding systems behind Connecticut’s transportation and social services networks. He has been the state finances reporter at CT Mirror since it launched in 2010. Prior to joining CT Mirror Keith was State Capitol bureau chief for The Journal Inquirer of Manchester, a reporter for the Day of New London, and a former contributing writer to The New York Times. Keith is a graduate of and a former journalism instructor at the University of Connecticut.
Posted inPolitics
As clock strikes 12, minimum wage among legislative casualties
The General Assembly’s regular session ended Wednesday night without the Democratic legislative leadership delivering on a promised progressive agenda of a livable wage, paid family medical leave and an overhaul of state laws on sexual harassment in the workplace.
Posted inMoney
Legislature overwhelmingly enacts bipartisan CT budget
The legislature overwhelmingly approved a new state budget shortly before their midnight deadline Wednesday that restores aid for towns; reverses health care cuts for the elderly, poor and disabled; and defers a transportation crisis — at least for another year.
Posted inNews
Leaders unveil bipartisan budget deal eight hours before deadline
With less than eight hours left in the session, Democratic and Republican legislative leaders announced a deal Wednesday to adjust the next state budget, restoring funds for health care and municipal aid — and dropping a series of proposed collective bargaining changes.
Posted inMoney
Collective bargaining, not money, dominates this budget fight
Connecticut’s legislative leaders struggled into the early morning Wednesday in negotiations to resolve what may be the state’s strangest budget fight: It’s not about money.
Posted inMoney
Bill to limit Hartford bailout faces opposition — from other cities
A compromise measure to effectively end the state’s fiscal bailout of Hartford after five years has stalled in the House — because of opposition from Bridgeport and New Haven.
Posted inMoney
Will Democrats, Republicans beat the buzzer with a budget deal?
With the General Assembly facing an adjournment deadline of midnight Wednesday, negotiations over the state budget hinged Tuesday on whether to focus on short-term fiscal and political needs or grapple with the economic challenges facing the lawmakers and new governor who will take office in January.
Posted inMoney
Surging revenues ease pressure on CT’s credit card
Robust spring tax receipts have largely resolved a problem with the state’s credit card, sparing lawmakers from having to cancel hundreds of millions of dollars in planned capital projects.
Posted inMoney
Aiming for bipartisan deal, Dems add funds for seniors, towns
Trying to avoid a repeat of last year when conservative Democrats defected to support a Republican state budget, Democratic legislative leaders unveiled several proposals Monday aimed at striking a bipartisan compromise. The plan restores funds for municipal aid and for a medication assistance program for seniors and the disabled.
Posted inMoney
Senate adopts bill to end Hartford bailout after five years
The Senate overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan compromise measure to effectively end the state’s fiscal bailout of Hartford after five years.
Posted inMoney
Senate approves raises to avert group home strikes
The Senate gave final approval Saturday to pay hikes designed to head off a strike Monday by 2,500 unionized care providers for the disabled. The Senate vote also means many of those who care for Connecticut’s intellectually and developmentally disabled will be getting their first raise in a decade or longer.
Posted inMoney
Advocates press lawmakers to restore Medicaid funding
Social services advocates brought their clients to the State Capitol on Saturday to make the case for lawmakers, now considering final revisions to the second year of the state’s biennial budget, to reverse cuts that could leave 13,200 poor adults without coverage in January.
Posted inMoney
House leaders won’t block GOP bid to limit Hartford bailout
One day after Connecticut approved a five-year fiscal recovery plan for Hartford, House Democratic leaders said they wouldn’t block a Republican proposal to effectively end the state bailout of the capital city after the upcoming fiscal year.
Posted inMoney
House narrowly approves study that could roil CT casino landscape
The House narrowly approved a bill Friday that would authorize a study of siting a new casino in Connecticut.
Posted inMoney
Bridgeport casino, Hartford debt aid complicate CT budget talks
With just five days left in the legislative session, a stubborn wrinkle is complicating efforts to craft a new state budget: regional politics.