If the death rate from the flu quadrupled in Connecticut over a four-year period, there would be outrage and demand for immediate action. But what happened when opioid-related deaths more than quadrupled between 2012 and 2016, from 5.7 to 24.5 deaths per 100,000 persons? Although the opioid crisis has certainly garnered significant media attention and public recognition, the skyrocketing opioid death rate hasn’t elicited the same outrage we would expect to see from other public health crises, such as deaths from infectious disease.
Pledging to be part of the opioid solution
Posted inPolitics
Blue wave that swamped New England endangers Yankee Republicans
Buffeted by political ill winds, New England’s Republicans in Congress moved toward the brink of extinction in last week’s midterm election, while Democrats made huge gains at all levels of state government offices. The “Trump effect” weakened the GOP in a region that was once known for a special brand of Republicanism, analyst say.
Posted inMoney
Report: CT’s debt costs likely will grow faster than its revenues
Despite a 12-month surge in state tax receipts, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget office warned Thursday that Connecticut’s pension obligations and other debt will grow faster than revenues in the coming years.
Posted inMoney
Malloy offers Lamont a blueprint to balance next CT budget
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy outlined a compromise path Thursday that would allow Gov.-elect Ned Lamont to modestly tap Connecticut’s reserves to avoid tax hikes — and still leave a sizable fiscal cushion to guard against the next recession.
Posted inPolitics
Recount called in 33rd state Senate District race
State election officials said a recent correction to a reporting error in Essex has put the contest for the 33rd District within a margin that requires a recount.
Posted inMoney
Lamont’s initial approach to budget is conservative
Gov.-elect Ned Lamont reacted cautiously Thursday to several days of good economic news, saying improving tax revenues, economic activity and job creation are coming at what is likely closer to the end than the beginning of an economic expansion in Connecticut and the rest of the U.S.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
In this doctor’s lane, patients live in fear of gun violence
Recently, the American College of Physicians released a position paper urging extensive reform to gun legislation. In response, the NRA issued the following Tweet: “Someone should tell self-important anti-gun doctors to stay in their lane. Half of the articles in Annals of Internal Medicine are pushing for gun control. Most upsetting, however, the medical community seems to have consulted NO ONE but themselves.”
Dear NRA,
I am writing to invite you to join me in my lane. …
Posted inCT Viewpoints
A fresh start: Rethinking the future of Connecticut’s community colleges
Now that the election is over and we have new leadership in the state, this is an ideal time to think in fresh ways about community colleges in Connecticut.
As we know, the Board of Regents is currently in the process of dismantling the community college system, replacing campus leadership with temporary “CEOs” and regional presidents, and contending against all evidence — and decades of experience across the nation — that community colleges don’t need presidents.
Posted inPolitics
Republican Logan declared State Senate seat winner after recount
State Sen. George Logan is the winner in the 17th state Senate District after a district-wide ballot recount, defeating Democratic challenger Jorge Cabrera of Hamden.
Posted inPolitics
Blumenthal considers suit to remove Whitaker as AG
WASHINGTON – Sen. Richard Blumenthal is among several Democrats exploring the idea of suing the Trump administration as a way to invalidate the appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general.
Posted inMoney
Good news? Teacher retirement costs to surge $100 million
State spending on retired teachers’ pensions is set to surge $100 million next fiscal year – an 8 percent increase the state is obligated to fund.
But, strangely, the spike is good news. That’s because this single line item in the state budget is $63 million less than officials anticipated.
Posted inPolitics
Once Pelosi loyalists, some CT Dems now weighing support for her leadership
WASHINGTON – Connecticut’s all-Democratic delegation to the U.S. House have supported Rep. Nancy Pelosi as their leader in the past, but now some of those loyalists are giving that support some thought.
Posted inCT Viewpoints, Talking Transportation
China’s transportation strategy way smarter than ours
Quiz question #1: What country has the largest interstate highway system in the world? Hint: It’s not the United States.
Quiz question #2: What country has the most miles of high-speed rail? Hint: It’s not France or Japan.
The answer to both questions is… China!
Posted inNews
Despite naysayers, Larson won’t bury the tunnel idea
An early concept sketch of U.S. Rep. John Larson’s proposal to bury I-91 and I-84 underground in Hartford and East Hartford. The proposed tunnels are shown in yellow and the existing highways in blue. The cloverleaf intersection would be under Colt Park. An early concept sketch of U.S. Rep. John Larson’s proposal to bury I-91 […]
Posted inJustice
State is spending more, not less, on inmate health care
A reorganization in how the state provides medical care to thousands of inmates will not save the state money this year as promised. Instead, it will cost millions more.