A state legislative panel agreed this week to consider a bill that would bar a controversial funding cut for work and social programs for the mentally retarded. The Human Services Committee raised a bill that would block the reduction until after Jan. 1, 2011, when a new group studying program rates is scheduled to report […]

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, moved quickly to distance himself from Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel of New York, who was admonished today by the House Ethics Committtee. Himes said he would donate to charity campaign contributions from Rangel, a noted rainmaker for Democrats. “I admire Mr. Rangel for his decades of leadership on civil […]

The state’s Judicial Branch either is at risk of losing its independence due to crippling budget cuts, or wants to be handled with fiscal kid gloves, depending on who was offering testimony Friday before a state legislative panel. Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s budget director urged the Judiciary Committee to reject a measure that would restore […]

Convincing fellow Democrats to send him to the General Assembly was the hard part, Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield says. After that, getting the legislature to vote for the first time to abolish the state’s death penalty seemed easy. “I don’t usually stop when people tell me no,” said the freshman Democrat from New Haven. Rep. Gary […]

A renewed effort to make Connecticut the first state to mandate that private employers offer paid sick days is an election-year fault line dividing business and labor, Republicans and Democrats. The Working Families Party chose “business day” at the Capitol Wednesday to resume lobbying to require businesses with at least 50 employees to offer up […]

Thousands of people have died in Connecticut because of their lack of health insurance says a report released today, and a group of state officials say the findings show the need for more scrutiny of rate increases. “Let’s have accountability on these rate increases,” said House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan. Currently the Connecticut Insurance Department […]

Southern Connecticut State University President Cheryl J. Norton has requested a sabbatical leave starting in June and will retire next year, she announced today. “After much thought and deliberation, I have come to the decision that for both personal and professional reasons it is time for me to move on,” Norton said in a message […]

Is the state doing enough to promote a new health plan that promises better care by bypassing insurance companies? Advocates say no, but the commissioner responsible for the program–and some health professionals–argue that the plan puts a heavy administrative burden on physicians without adequate reimbursement. “The word is out. This is a choice program and […]

When they adopted a budget in September, state legislators and Gov. M. Jodi Rell balanced the books-at least on paper-by assuming an unprecedented level of savings to be achieved later. For Connecticut’s nonprofit social services industry and the clients they serve, later has arrived. These providers are accusing Rell’s administration of testing the spirit — […]

A milestone in the life every lame-duck governor will come today as legislators confirm the appointment of Anna M. Ficeto as a commissioner of the Public Utilities Control Authority. Ficeto, the legal counsel to Gov. M. Jodi Rell, appears to be the first high-ranking administration official to leave for a more secure job since Rell […]

Although demand for coverage is rising, the state’s social services commissioner told legislators Tuesday that the Rell administration wants to shut down a toll-free phone line that provides information about the HUSKY health care program for low-income children and their families. The toll-free line costs the state $670,000 a year. Department of Social Services Commissioner Michael […]

At Jumoke Academy, a nearly all-black charter school in one of Hartford’s poorest neighborhoods, Monique Griffin, the mother of four students, scoffs at the idea the school would be considered a failure. “Jumoke has been great,” says Griffin, citing its family-like atmosphere, after-school programs and encouraging academic record. Nevertheless, a controversial new report takes direct […]

Following Connecticut’s dismal record in getting money for transportation projects from stimulus grants, the U.S. Transportation Secretary announced the state will receive help in submitting future grant applications to assure the state is competitive. “My department will meet with each and every Connecticut applicant to ensure that they are fully prepared to compete later this […]

Following controversy over a large rate increase sought by a health insurer last summer, a group of state officials is pushing for a new law requiring greater scrutiny of such changes–with opposition from both the industry and the commissioner in charge of regulating it. The bill before the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee would […]

To understand the political challenges involved in trying to save the Citizens’ Election Program, imagine the state’s embattled system of publicly financing campaigns as a house on fire. Gov. M. Jodi Rell is desperately trying to dial 911. The Senate’s Democratic majority isn’t sure the fire is that bad. And some leading Republicans hope it […]