Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, stepped into the fray over Medicare today, outlining a proposal to dramatically change the government health care program for the elderly. “Medicare is hurtling toward its demise – our government is approaching a cataclysmic fiscal tipping point – while Washington is busy posturing for the next election,” Lieberman writes […]
Money
Stories about Connecticut’s budget, the federal budget, jobs and employment, state investments and casinos.
Posted inHealth, Money
CEOs promote wellness programs, target cancer
About 300 CEOs from 14 states are part of an effort, led by the American Cancer Society, to get employers to embrace wellness programs and fight cancer, Jackie Crosby reports in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “CEOs Against Cancer” is aimed at getting business leaders involved in promoting healthy workplace cultures, preventing cancer and reducing health […]
Posted inMoney, Politics
Delegation plans “Weekend Retreat” (i.e. fundraiser) at Foxwoods
Connecticut’s congressional delegation is planning a big get-together. The impetus? Raising campaign cash. All 5 of the state’s U.S. House members will be heading to the Foxwoods Resort Casino July 8th to 10th for a “Weekend Retreat.” The beneficiary of the event is Rep. Joe Courtney, according to the invitation, but there are ten “special […]
Posted inHealth, Money
Insurance rate review bill passes, but will Malloy sign it?
A proposal to give the attorney general and healthcare advocate authority to order public “symposiums” on requests to raise health and long-term care insurance rates won final legislative approval Wednesday, but it’s not clear whether Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will sign it. Malloy’s insurance commissioner, Thomas B. Leonardi, considers the bill an unnecessary mandate. Asked […]
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Truckers win fight to keep Willington rest stations open
Score one for the state’s largest trucking association. The General Assembly reversed itself in its final hours Wednesday, restoring just under $460,000 to keep two rest stops open on Interstate 84 in Willington – at least for one more year. The Senate voted 29-7 and the House 141-6 to adopt a measure keeping the facilities […]
Posted inEnergy & Environment, Money
State panel approves Connecticut’s first wind farm
Connecticut’s first commercial wind farm is on the books: The Connecticut Siting Council in a 6-1 vote, approved the first of two related projects in Colebrook. “A great message was sent by new the new administration that Connecticut is open for wind renewable energy,” said Greg Zupkus, co-founder of BNE Energy of West Hartford, the […]
Posted inHealth, Money
Social service providers cheer state budget
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget might not have won him points in polls, but it did get administration officials several rounds of applause and more than a few “thank yous” from nonprofit social service providers and their clients Wednesday morning. They praised the administration and legislative leaders for protecting the safety net. Office of Policy […]
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MTA project director chosen to lead IT agency as workers demand upgrades
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy finally announced his new chief technology administrator Thursday, albeit with less fanfare than other agency commissioners received. But Mark Raymond, the new chief information officer of the Department of Information Technology, will face considerable challenges when he assumes his new role on June 2. Not only is DOIT slated to be […]
Posted inEnergy & Environment, Money
Study: State does well in linking transportation spending, policy goals
A new report gives Connecticut and 12 other states high marks for measuring the effectiveness of transportation spending in meeting policy goals ranging from traffic safety to environmental protection. The report, by the Pew Center on the States and the Rockefeller Foundation, assesses states on their use of goals, performance measures and data to link […]
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Marijuana decrim wins a ‘joint favorable’
A proposal to reduce the penalty of getting caught with small amounts of marijuana has cleared another legislative committee, and now heads to the state Senate for consideration. Currently those convicted of possession of small amounts of marijuana face a criminal record and a fine of up to $1,000. The proposal was approved Tuesday by […]
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Conservative group sues the state over a $2 billion budget hole
Two Republican legislators are plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed by a conservative group claiming the budget passed by Democrats this week is illegal because it relies on $2 billion in labor savings that have yet to be secured. “It’s a phony budget, dressed up in gimmicks,” said Sen. Leonard Suzio, R-Meriden. “It’s an abuse, really.” […]
Posted inHealth, Money
Hospital tax fallout changes yet again
A new revision to the proposed tax on hospitals would exempt six hospitals that have struggled financially from a portion of the tax but would reduce the total amount of money hospitals get from the state. The budget proposal agreed to by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Democratic legislators calls for taxing hospitals and redistributing […]
Posted inHealth, Money
Refilled DSS eligibility positions exempt from hiring freeze
The expanded hiring freeze announced Friday does not affect the recent approval of hires to fill vacant eligibility positions at the state Department of Social Services. In a memo to agency heads Friday, Office of Policy and Management Secretary Ben Barnes said that previously approved refill authorization for most vacant positions had been rescinded. But […]
Posted inHealth, Money
New hospital tax formula makes new winners and losers
A new method for calculating the proposed tax on hospitals, part of the budget agreed to by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Democratic legislators, changes the projected financial outcomes for hospitals. Yale-New Haven Hospital would gain $27.2 million under the plan. Greenwich Hospital remains the biggest projected loser, although its loss–$7.3 million–would be less than […]
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Malloy praised by UTC exec who panned state business climate
Gregory J. Hayes, the prominent executive who rattled the political establishment a year ago by telling Wall Street that “anyplace outside of Connecticut is low cost” when it comes to doing business, gave a thumbs up Tuesday night to the new governor’s approach to finance and economic development. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy shared a stage […]