I have read numerous articles by the Connecticut Mirror that routinely lay the blame for our unfunded health and retirement benefits on under-saving for these plans for decades. While this is true, it ignores the fact that the unions were complicit in this under-funding and other significant contributing factors. State pension and healthcare agreements are rife with abuse.
The Connecticut Mirror’s shallow and biased analysis
Posted inNews
Hayes, Santos debate highlights sharply different philosophies and approaches
Democrat Jahana Hayes doubled down on the importance of education, while her Republican rival Manny Santos burnished his conservative credentials at a debate before an audience of college students Wednesday night.
Posted inHealth
Connecticut Insurance Department approves CVS-Aetna merger
The Connecticut Insurance Department has approved CVS Health Corp’s $69 billion merger with Hartford-based Aetna Inc.
The approval is contingent on Aetna completing the sale of its standalone Medicare Part D prescription plan business.
Posted inPolitics
Senate Democrats underscore spending by national Republican PAC
Connecticut Senate Democrats on Wednesday criticized spending by a national Republican-funded Super PAC focused on influencing specific state senate races ahead of the midterm election.
Posted inNews
Gubernatorial contenders seek support among CT retailers
While universally agreeing to enforce sales tax collections on internet retailers, Connecticut’s gubernatorial contenders continued to battle Wednesday over how to fix the state’s finances and its economy.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Medicaid is essential to Connecticut and the rest of America
Medicaid is an essential part of America’s safety net and is relied on by many millions of working families, children, and people with disabilities in our country. It helps fund hospitals and doctors that deliver health care to people who would otherwise be unable to pay. Without Medicaid, providers would still have to offer these services; they would just have to absorb the cost, hurting the system overall. Medicaid also provides an economic boost to the states, with the federal government covering most of the costs, pumping millions into state economies.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut’s fiscal straits are GOOD for its future
The dire picture of Connecticut’s finances painted by the majority of candidates for state office is a GOOD thing. Finally, candidates are at least talking about the right things: spending within our means, bonding within reason, and ending the undue riches the state showers on employees who are in some cases undeserving. Now, let’s see if those who win can follow through beyond election season.
Posted inEducation, Justice
Fate of state’s school integration efforts rests with federal judge
BRIDGEPORT — A federal judge will soon determine whether his court should get involved in how the state awards enrollment to students in high-performing magnet schools located throughout Connecticut. At issue is whether the lottery’s algorithm – which is designed to limit enrollment of black and Hispanic students in a school to 75 percent – is discriminatory, and therefore a violation of the U.S. Constitution.
Posted inPolitics
Stefanowski goes positive, leaving attacks to a GOP super PAC
A new television commercial featuring his wife, three daughters and the family dog reflects a shift by Republican Bob Stefanowski toward a softer message, leaving attacks on Democrat Ned Lamont to a Republican super PAC that has boosted its weekly advertising buy in Connecticut’s volatile gubernatorial race.
Posted inPolitics
Himes uses war chest to help other Dems, Arora raises less than $9k over summer
WASHINGTON – Democratic Rep. Jim Himes is spending more money on the races of other Democratic candidates than he is on his own, while his Republican challenger Harry Arora, raised less than $9,000 in campaign cash this summer. Himes donated to the campaigns of more than 70 House Democrats in the last quarter, the latest filings with the Federal Election Commission show.
Posted inMoney
Panel leaders want new life for their plan to fix CT’s finances
The leaders of the state Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Competitiveness are working now so their plan to fix Connecticut’s finances will be reconsidered after the November elections.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
What happened in Kansas is a cautionary tale for Connecticut
Imagine, if you will, a state that was unable to draw itself out of the deep recession of 2008. Neighboring states fared better and were chugging along at a nice clip. Talking about Connecticut? Well, it could be, but, actually the state I was referring to is Kansas. There is a reason why some candidates for governor here talk about Kansas.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Raise the age limit to purchase tobacco and e-cigarettes
The Connecticut Department of Public Health is right to be concerned about the increased number of high school students vaping. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in our nation, and e-cigarettes offer youths an opportunity to begin a harmful and lifelong addiction to tobacco, newly fueled by attractive devices and kid-targeted flavors. While we are glad to see that the FDA is being more transparent about the potential dangers of e-cigarettes, it’s clear that we must act quickly and decisively on the state and local levels to protect our children from these products.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Pistone: ‘We need an outsider to challenge the status quo.’
After careful deliberation, I have decided to pursue a run for the United States Congress in the 5th Congressional District of Connecticut as an Independent Conservative WRITE-IN Candidate. My decision came as a result of receiving numerous emails and the outpouring of support from our citizens asking me not to give up, but instead continue to run and fight. Over and over I have heard, “we need an outsider who is willing to challenge the status quo.”
Posted inHousing
Housing inequality can be both cause and effect of poverty in wealthy CT
Not being able to afford a home in a suburban community is a common problem for many of Connecticut’s low-income residents, particularly people of color, because of the state’s longstanding and widespread lack of affordable housing. Fourth in a series.