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Stories about the state budget, the federal budget, economic development, jobs and employment, transportation, state investments, and casinos.
State income tax revenues surged upward again Tuesday, but this time it was the middle class — not the wealthy — behind most of the gains. A new report from fiscal analysts projects overall revenues this fiscal year will surpass budgeted expectations by $464 million — an improvement of $204 million from a rosy revised […]
Ben Barnes begins a new job this month overseeing the finances for 17 state colleges and universities, an enormous system in transition due to shrinking enrollment and lean state budget support. Still, Barnes welcomes a job with a narrower focus, relatively speaking, from his last one. The new chief financial officer for the Board of Regents […]
Though Gov. Ned Lamont’s first budget isn’t due for weeks, he dropped a few clues Wednesday about what he would do — and what he would need — to make that plan work.
Staffing shortages have been cited repeatedly by the state Department of Education when asked by legislators, oversight board, or advocates to address problems or provide assistance. It's a problem shared by other state agencies -- or soon will be as budgetary forces place increasing strain on the state's workforce.
Social services advocates warned Thursday that a series of new caps in the state budget could dramatically drain resources away from municipalities, education and services for children over the next decade.
Perhaps there was a time when journalism commanded such respect, but not anymore. While journalists have always been left of center, most took pride in their work, and accurately reported events free of political bias. The mantra of journalism once was, “If your mother says she loves you, check it out.”
American politics are polarized by a two-party system in which each major party appeals to those furthest from the center. This polarization has been credibly blamed for significant dysfunction in our government, and high citizen dissatisfaction. According to Michael Porter and Katherine Gehl, writing in a September 2017 white paper published by Harvard Business School, […]
Craig Hoffman's January 15 essay for building a wall is a Janus-faced argument. On one level, he argues that building a wall "will greatly reduce the importation of drugs, guns and human trafficking that currently occurs from Mexico." On the another level, Hoffman hides or fails to acknowledge that the source of his arguments is the "Build that Wall and Mexico will pay for it" slogan from 2016. That slogan feeds on a sinister, subliminal message that is divisive and obscene. Now that campaign slogan has turned into a presidential priority and it is painful and costly for those forced to work without pay.
Ned Lamont is off to a solid start in attempting to reduce cynicism about our state's ability to use taxpayer dollars wisely. He is addressing environmental problems and helping businesses create more jobs. Among other upcoming opportunities to further this work, his leadership is needed to chart the path to Connecticut’s newly legislated 2030 goals to reduce climate pollution by 45 percent and increase renewable energy to 40 percent, which will create thousands of new jobs here in the state.
