Connecticut and five other states funded more than $1.25 billion in stem cell research between 2005 and 2009–more than the National Institutes of Health, according to an analysis by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology. But the states varied widely in the type of research they funded. Connecticut by far funded the most research […]

Amazing how much attention two guys can get for being nice. “The Daily Show” aired its own take last night on the curious case of state Sen. Andrew M. Maynard, D-Stonington, and his Republican challenger, Stuart Norman, who resolved last fall to be civil in their campaign. “One would assume this was all some kind […]

WASHINGTON–In a surprising bit of brinksmanship, House Democrats moved Thursday to block consideration of the sweeping tax cut agreement brokered earlier this week by the White House and top congressional Republicans. “There’s a strong desire among the members of the House of Representatives to put their own imprimatur on this very important piece of legislation,” […]

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to delay a scheduled 25 percent Medicare payment cut for one year. If President Obama signs the bill as expected, it will mark the sixth time this year that Medicare cuts have been staved off. The move drew praise from doctors and patient groups who worried that the […]

WASHINGTON–Efforts to repeal the Pentagon’s ban on homosexuals serving openly in the military hit a fresh Republican blockade in the Senate Thursday but proponents, including Sen. Joseph Lieberman, say they have a fall-back plan that could revive the bill before the end of the lame-duck session. In a surprising and dramatic Senate vote, supporters of repealing […]

Gov.-elect Dan Malloy released a statement tonight supporting the “framework” of the tax deal President Obama struck with congressional Republicans over the objections many in the state’s congressional delegation. Malloy praised the extension of unemployment benefits and the tax increase that middle-class taxpayers will avoid, though he said nothing about the savings that also will […]

After two unsuccessful statewide campaigns in four years, Ned Lamont says he is strongly disinclined to make another run at Joe Lieberman in the 2012 race for U.S. Senate. Lamont, 56, who ran for Senate in 2006 and governor in 2010, said other potential Democratic candidates have called to gauge his interest in a rematch […]

The state is still falling far short of compliance with a court order to reduce the racial isolation of Hartford’s largely black and Hispanic school population, and advocates say drastic changes will be needed to avoid further legal action. “State officials need to take this court order much more seriously. If they continue down the […]

Ready to pay state sales tax on all clothing purchases? How about on gasoline and heating fuel? While the potential furor over such moves might give legislators nightmares, they could be part of a tax reform effort that both helps Connecticut’s poorest households and reduces the huge state budget deficit, according to the new quarterly […]

With a new legislative session just a month away, the state Department of Environmental Protection this week is touting its efforts to streamline the permitting process–efforts some business leaders say are a good beginning, but not enough. DEP has long been criticized by the business community and state legislators over the length of time it […]

Gov.-elect Dan Malloy made an unscheduled visit Wednesday to the year’s largest gathering of environmental policymakers and advocates, and told the crowd he would be “highly supportive of your goals, which are my goals.” Malloy arrived at the annual summit of  the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters just before noon. He walked to the front […]

Earning an associates degree from a community college is not only significantly cheaper than earning a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college, but the two-year degree provides almost the same return on investment, University of Connecticut economist say. “It is very clear that for a very limited investment, community colleges return pretty high results,” said […]

Richard Blumenthal announced his first hire for his U.S. Senate office on Wednesday, tapping Laurie Rubiner, an expert in health and women’s issues, to be his chief of staff. Rubiner is a former aide to ex-Sens. Hillary Clinton, a Democrat from New York, and the late John Chafee, a moderate Republican from Rhode Island. Between […]

The Senate on Wednesday passed a one-year patch to avoid a looming 25 percent cut to physician reimbursements for Medicare. The payment reduction is set to take effect on Jan. 1, so lawmakers must deal with the issue before they break for the holidays. The Senate bill still has to win House approval. And it […]

Connecticut and the rest of the New England states rank near the top in term of the health of their residents, a new survey says. The survey by the United Health Foundation measures residents of each state on factors that can predict future health, such as smoking and exercising, as well as statistics on such […]