WASHINGTON — The parents of two children who lost their lives in the Sandy Hook school shooting told President Donald Trump the nation does not need to arm teachers, but should prevent mass shootings by training teachers to respond when a child displays certain signs of trouble. “Sandy Hook Promise has created something that works,” said Mark Barden, holding up a photo of his slain 6-year-old son Daniel.
Politics
Stories about CT politicians, elections, state legislation, the state’s congressional delegation and the impact of federal legislation on Connecticut.
Posted inPolitics
Esty draws second GOP challenger — Manny Santos
Rep. Elizabeth Esty has a second Republican rival as former Meriden Mayor Manny Santos declared his candidacy for the 5th District congressional seat Wednesday.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Trump pushes for ‘bump stock’ ban, but Malloy, others skeptical
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump directed Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday to propose regulations that would ban bump stocks and similar devices “that turn legal weapons into machine guns.” But proponents of stricter federal gun regulations, including Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, are skeptical of Trump’s initiative.
Posted inJustice, Politics
In CT Senate, a partisan edge to fighting workplace harassment
Connecticut Senate Democrats aligned themselves Tuesday with the burgeoning Me Too and Time’s Up movements by proposing a sweeping election-year bill that they say would be “the largest overhaul in modern Connecticut history of sexual harassment laws.” Republicans objected to their exclusion.
Posted inHealth, Politics
White House moves to allow Obamacare rival
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Tuesday moved forward on allowing Americans to purchase short-term health plans that may be more affordable than what’s on the market right now but would not contain the Affordable Care Act’s consumer protections and would undermine the health care law.
Posted inPolitics
Stefanowski: Crowded field makes public financing too expensive
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski is challenging his many opponents to drop out of the voluntary public financing program that pays qualifying candidates $1.25 million for a primary and $6 million for the general election. That probably won’t impress many delegates at nominating conventions, where a candidate’s ability to qualify for public funds is a sign of credibility. But his call underscores how expensive this crowded election might be for taxpayers.
Posted inPolitics
Weighing unpopular governor against unpredictable president
One of the great ironies in politics is that the election of a Republican president has injected uncertainty into what had seemed to be an inexorable, 10-year march by Connecticut Republicans from irrelevance to dominance at the State Capitol. Anger at Donald J. Trump now competes with dissatisfaction over Democrats’ stewardship of the state’s finances and economy.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Trump considering support of Murphy-Cornyn gun bill
WASHINGTON — Grappling to respond to the massacre at a high school in Parkland, Fla., President Donald Trump is considering support of a bill introduced by Sen. Chris Murphy and Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn that would tighten FBI background checks of prospective gun purchasers. But Murphy tweeted, “No one should pretend this bill alone is an adequate response to this epidemic.”
Posted inHealth, Politics
Trump health plan gets mixed reviews in CT
WASHINGTON — Connecticut officials have joined a pushback against a Trump administration plan to allow unrelated employers to band together so they can provide their employees affordable — but perhaps limited — health care, while others in the state are celebrating the move.
Posted inMoney, News, Politics
Linda McMahon in Washington, re-imagining the SBA
WASHINGTON – Linda McMahon, the highest-ranking member of the Trump administration from Connecticut, has had a trial-by-fire first year as head of the Small Business Administration. In this Sunday Conversation, she spoke with The Connecticut Mirror about her year as part of the Trump cabinet.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics
Two reps embody the split on legalizing marijuana
New Haven State Rep. Juan Candelaria got to see firsthand last week the face of opposition to his proposal to legalize recreational use of marijuana: It is suburban. And possibly wearing braces.
Posted inJustice, Politics
School massacre provokes calls for ‘red flag’ laws like one CT pioneered
WASHINGTON — The school shooting in Parkland, Fla., has opened a debate on whether more states should do what Connecticut was first to do — pass laws that allow the confiscation of weapons from those who are believed to be a danger to others and themselves.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Senate easily confirms Durham for CT U.S. Attorney
WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed John Durham as Connecticut’s new U.S. Attorney on a unanimous vote late Thursday. “John Durham is a fierce, fair prosecutor,” Connecticut’s Democratic senators said.
Posted inPolitics
U.S. Senate fails to protect ‘dreamers’
WASHINGTON — Congress proved it is as stalemated on immigration as it is on gun control Thursday, as the Senate failed to advance any of three bills that would protect young immigrants known as “dreamers” from deportation. Sen. Chris Murphy blamed his Republican colleagues for the failure to prevent a looming immigration crisis.
Posted inPolitics
Malloy: Connecticut’s angry prophet of mass shootings
Over the more than five years since Sandy Hook, the governor of Connecticut has acted as the Cassandra of gun control, the angry prophet destined to be ignored, at least in the ranks of the NRA and Congress. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy first warned America two days after 26 children and staff died in Sandy Hook School that mass shootings were coming to your schools, your children. He was at it again Thursday.