Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy say they were prevented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from touring a facility in Groton on Friday that houses immigrant children. “This denial of access to a facility in our own state is outrageous, and we will keep doing everything we can to support Noank and to reunite these kids with their families,” the senators said.
Politics
Stories about CT politicians, elections, state legislation, the state’s congressional delegation and the impact of federal legislation on Connecticut.
Posted inPolitics
CT Dems seek political boost from Supreme Court fight
WASHINGTON – The prospect of a bruising battle over a Supreme Court nominee will permeate many political campaigns this year, including some in Connecticut, where Democrats are using the prospect of another Trump-appointed justice as an issue that will help them organize and raise money.
Posted inPolitics
Despite investigation, Obsitnik not giving up on public financing
The Republican gubernatorial campaign of Steve Obsitnik said Friday that the investigation opened Wednesday by the State Elections Enforcement Commission does not rule out eventual approval of its application for $1.35 million in public financing under the Citizens’ Election Program. But Obsitnik’s campaign manager also conceded it has no contingency if the money is not approved in coming weeks.
Posted inNews, Politics
House okays defense bill, but rejects Courtney’s sub bid
Washington – The U.S. House on Thursday rejected Rep. Joe Courtney’s bid to require the Pentagon to spend an additional $1 billion this year for additional Virginia-class submarines made by Electric Boat, a move strongly opposed by the Defense Department. The Pentagon successfully argued that spending more on the Electric Boat-made subs would siphon off funds from other military priorities.
Posted inPolitics
SEEC investigating Obsitnik campaign’s finances
The State Elections Enforcement Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to investigate whether the campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Obsitnik has illegally raised campaign contributions or improperly coordinated activities with FixCT., Inc., an independent expenditure committee promoting Obsitnik.
Posted inPolitics
Murphy says GOP should adhere to ‘Merrick rule’ with new Supreme Court pick
Washington — President Donald Trump has not named a replacement for Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced his retirement Wednesday, but that hasn’t stopped Sen. Chris Murphy from saying he’ll block the president’s pick.
Posted inPolitics
DeLauro: Republicans are ‘cowards’ for postponing bill to address immigrant family separations
WASHINGTON — Rep. Rosa DeLauro on Tuesday accused Republican members of an appropriations committee of “cowardice” because they postponed consideration of a bill Democrats planned to amend with provisions targeting the separation of immigrant families at the border. A GOP spokeswoman said there just hasn’t been enough time to consider the bill.
Posted inPolitics
Guy Smith falls short, leaving a Lamont-Ganim primary
Guy L. Smith conceded Tuesday that his petition drive for a place in the Democratic gubernatorial primary has failed, leaving Democrats with a two-way race on Aug. 14 between the convention-endorsed candidate, Ned Lamont, and Bridgeport Mayor Joseph P. Ganim.
Posted inPolitics
In 5th CD, GOP candidates agree on trade, immigrants and Trump
TORRINGTON — The three Republicans seeking the open seat in the 5th Congressional District glided through a one-hour debate Monday night without disagreeing on President Trump’s approach to immigration or trade, two of the most contentious issues dividing Democrats and Republicans in Washington.
Posted inMoney
Connecticut’s Schick razors receive a waiver in tariff war
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration new policy on imported steel and aluminum has prompted dozens of Connecticut companies to ask for an exclusion from new tariffs on these metals, but only one, Schick Manufacturing Inc. of Shelton, has as yet received a waiver. Meanwhile, the European Union has counter-punched and President Donald Trump threatens to escalate the trade war.
Posted inPolitics
Democrats sustain Malloy’s vetoes, frustrating Republican leaders
The General Assembly sustained all seven vetoes Monday that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy issued following this year’s legislative session.
Posted inPolitics
A dash of guerrilla theater in GOP race for governor
Republican gubernatorial candidate Timothy Herbst staged a ceremonial signing Monday of the no-tax pledge popularized by Grover Norquist, whose web site promotes Norquist with theatrical-style blurbs: “The high priest of Republican tax-cutting — New York Times,” and “The dark wizard of the Right’s anti-tax cult — Ariana Huffington.” It was more theater than he expected.
Posted inPolitics
Stemerman pledges another $10M to his self-funded campaign
David Stemerman, the former hedge-fund manager who is self-funding a campaign for governor, sought to make a splash Monday by pledging to spend another $10 million in pursuit of the Republican nomination, seven times the $1.35 million available to three competitors relying on public financing.
Posted inPolitics
Independent PAC spends $112,000 to boost Steve Obsitnik
Thomas E. McInerney contributed $100 in February to the Republican gubernatorial campaign of his fellow Westport resident, Steve Obsitnik. It was the maximum Obsitnik could accept as a candidate seeking public financing under the Citizens’ Election Program created in 2005 to blunt the influence of money in Connecticut politics. But McInerney, a venture capitalist, was able and willing to do far more to support Obsitnik — giving $100,000 to FixCT, Inc., an independent-expenditure group promoting Obsitnik.
Posted inPolitics
CT Dems ‘shocked’ about condition of immigrant detentions at border
WASHINGTON — Connecticut lawmakers at the U.S.-Mexico border this weekend said they were moved, and even shocked, by what they saw up close as the effect of the Trump administration’s immigration policy. “It was worse than we ever thought,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District.