Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s town hall meeting tour is finished, but other state officials will go back on the road for five public forums to explain and get feedback on a key part of federal health reform. The 90-minute meetings will address the health insurance exchange, a marketplace for health insurance that will offer a […]

Connecticut is facing the worst budget crisis of our lifetimes, and most people agree that the solutions will require both spending cuts and new taxes. With so many unpleasant options in the governor’s budget proposal, it can be difficult to make the case that any particular constituency should be spared. But the governor’s proposal to […]

Suppose there was a way to provide more children with better health care and save taxpayer money at the same time-wouldn’t it make sense for the state to embrace such an option? Of course it would. That’s why for years many state lawmakers have been pushing Connecticut’s Department of Social Services to use a Primary […]

When I read what the Connecticut Restaurant Association had to say about the proposed paid sick days bill, I had to respond. They say paid sick leave is a bad idea for restaurants. People who own restaurants might feel that way, but those of us who work at restaurants – or eat at them – […]

The restaurant industry in Connecticut has not been immune to the economic crisis that has faced our state; we have seen some very challenging days.  People were saving wherever they could, and that meant spending less on eating out, which created a tough climate for our restaurants. But most have survived and are looking forward […]

Elizabeth is a restaurant worker. Wanda is a school bus driver. Rosa works in retail. Gloria works as a home healthcare worker. One thing they all have in common: They don’t get paid sick days at their job. If we could pass legislation to stop people from getting sick, we could probably all agree on […]

(Kia Murrell is associate counsel for the Connecticut Business & Industry Association) Most Connecticut lawmakers ran for office on the promise of creating and growing jobs in the state. But the legislature’s Labor Committee has approved a proposal that actually would increase business costs, prevent job growth and could result in the loss of jobs. […]

In a curious coincidence, the editorial boards of two major Connecticut newspapers recently published articles on the same day calling for the closure of Riverview Hospital, our state’s only publicly-funded mental health hospital for children. I represent an organization that calls for the improvement and expansion of mental health services in the child’s natural environment […]

At first, I was prepared to give Gov. Malloy a whole lot of rope on his budget.  I understand the need to cut spending and raise revenue, and I’m prepared to do my part. But then I read the fine print.  I still understand the need to address the State’s deficit, but to do so […]

Governor Malloy deserves great credit for presenting the first fiscally honest budget in many years, avoiding the quick-fix gimmickry that has contributed to our current revenue shortfalls, such as a reliance on one-time revenues and borrowing.  His reforms are a first step toward a budget that improves fairness, is more adequate to the state’s needs, […]