Acknowledging that legislators are unlikely this spring to enact their complete, multi-tiered plan to stabilize Connecticut’s finances, the leaders of a key state panel have agreed to pursue a piecemeal approach — for now.
Politics
Stories about CT politicians, elections, state legislation, the state’s congressional delegation and the impact of federal legislation on Connecticut.
Posted inPolitics
Attacking state pensions, Stemerman tries to break from GOP pack
Former hedge fund manager David Stemerman is trying to distinguish himself in the crowded field of Republican candidates for governor with a radical political and legal strategy for attacking Connecticut’s massive unfunded pension liability.
Posted inPolitics
Mary Glassman jumps into suddenly open 5th District race
Mary Glassman, the former first selectman of Simsbury and two-time Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, was the first Monday to declare her candidacy for Congress in the wake of the decision by U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, not to seek re-election. Glassman is unlikely to be the last to enter the race for a suddenly open seat.
Posted inPolitics
Esty says she will not seek re-election
WASHINGTON – Embattled Rep. Elizabeth Esty announced Monday she will not run for re-election. “I have determined that it is in the best interest of my constituents and my family to end my time in Congress at the end of this year and not seek re-election,” Esty said.
Posted inPolitics
Ross overruled career officials at Census Bureau to add citizenship question
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross’ decision to add a controversial question on citizenship to the 2020 census came in the face of opposition from career officials at the Census Bureau who fear it will depress response rates, especially from immigrants.
Posted inPolitics
Looney, other state Dems, demand Esty resign
Rep. Elizabeth Esty defiantly said on Saturday she had no intention of leaving Congress as several state Democrats, including the highest-ranking member of the state Senate and a Democratic gubernatorial contender, called for her to resign.
Posted inPolitics
Esty writes mea culpa to colleagues; GOP calls for resignation
WASHINGTON – Republicans on Friday called on Rep. Elizabeth Esty to resign over her handling of a former chief-of-staff accused of abusive behavior, while the Democratic congresswoman sought damage control within her own party.
Posted inPolitics
Rep. Angel Arce delivers his resignation letter
State Rep. Angel Arce, D-Hartford, who promised to resign two weeks ago in response to what legislative leaders and the governor called an inappropriate exchange of text messages with a teenaged girl, delivered his resignation Thursday, a spokesman for the secretary of the state’s office said. It is effective on April 9.
Posted inMoney
CT budget panel going down to the wire again
With last year’s failure to recommend a new budget still fresh in their minds, the leaders of the legislature’s Appropriations Committee were uncertain this week whether they could avoid a repeat.
Posted inTransportation
Boost in federal transportation money unexpected, but welcomed in CT
WASHINGTON — The massive federal omnibus spending bill increased transportation spending by $10 billion, a windfall for Connecticut’s struggling transportation system, which will benefit from Washington’s unexpected generosity.
Posted inMoney
Debt assistance could cost Hartford other state aid
A new state plan to pay off nearly $550 million of Hartford’s bonded debt led some legislators Wednesday to consider reducing other forms of aid to the capital city.
Posted inPolitics
Doctors say seizure, surgery no bar to Boughton’s campaign
With a graphic and detailed presentation from his physicians, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton moved forcefully Wednesday to reassure voters of his fitness to continue campaigning for governor, addressing his seizure at a campaign event two weeks ago and his surgery last summer to remove a benign tumor.
Posted inPolitics
Senate GOP blocks confirmation of McDonald as chief justice
Senate Republicans voted as a bloc Tuesday to deny the confirmation of Andrew J. McDonald as chief justice of Connecticut Supreme Court, stopping the ascent of a political and legal trailblazer for the gay community, a factor that opponents insisted was irrelevant and supporters said could not be ignored. Sen. Joan Hartley of Waterbury was the lone Democrat to vote against McDonald’s confirmation, which failed 19 to 16.
Posted inPolitics
White House encouraging states to consider red-flag law CT pioneered
The White House will be encouraging states to consider enacting a law Connecticut pioneered that allows the seizure of guns from people who might hurt themselves or others, administration officials said Monday.
Posted inPolitics
GOP tells Malloy it will block confirmation of McDonald
Senate Republican leader Len Fasano informed Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Monday that all 18 GOP senators intend to vote Tuesday against the confirmation of his friend and former legal adviser, Andrew J. McDonald, as chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. With the recusal of one Democratic senator in the evenly divided Senate, the GOP has a majority of 18-17 on the question of whether McDonald would be confirmed as the first openly gay chief justice of the highest court in any state.