Motorists at the Wethersfield DMV office endure long waits for service. Michael Thomas was suffering through a two-and-a-half hour wait at the Department of Motor Vehicles office in Wethersfield on a recent afternoon when Gov. Dannel P. Malloy appeared on the TV in the corner of the crowded, dingy room. Thomas watched as Malloy cut the ribbon for […]
DMV improves some wait times, lines still long at main branches
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 inCT Viewpoints
In defense of a Middle-Eastern refugee couple who fled an evil law to save their son
Dear President Trump, when Mary got pregnant, she was an unwed teenager. Upon finding out that the woman to whom he was betrothed was pregnant, Joseph was appalled and ashamed and made a plan to send her away. After divine counseling, he reversed his decision and married her as planned. Upon giving birth, the young couple found out that the government instituted a law mandating the execution of every child born in the same timeframe as their son. To what will be a great consternation to Attorney General Sessions, they broke the law, choosing instead to smuggle their newborn son out of Bethlehem, thus joining the ranks of the poor and oppressed seeking asylum in a new country.
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 inNews
SCOTUS ruling on unions echoes loudly in Connecticut
A U.S. Supreme Court decision Wednesday that weakens public-sector unions, whose members are the largest segment of organized labor and an influential Democratic ally in Connecticut politics, became an instant rallying point in the mid-term elections and potential wedge issue in the race to succeed Gov. Dannel P. Malloy as governor.
Posted inMoney
Malloy will release long-delayed hospital payments this week
Connecticut hospitals won’t have to wait until the summer’s end as they originally feared to receive close to $300 million in supplemental state payments.
Posted inNews
U.S. House set to settle Courtney dispute with Pentagon over sub production
WASHINGTON – Rep. Joe Courtney will go head to head with the Pentagon on Thursday over the number of submarines the Pentagon should buy. “Two subs” Joe wants the Pentagon to increase procurement from two to three in certain years; a top Pentagon official says that would divert money from other programs and opposes the move.
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 inHealth
Connecticut launches campaign to end new HIV infections
The new Connecticut Department of Public Health campaign, dubbed ‘Getting to Zero,’ will attempt to dissipate new HIV infections, AIDS-related deaths, and stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS.
Posted inEducation, Money
UConn trustees act to avert another tuition hike — for now
While adopting a new budget that maintains the existing tuition schedule, University of Connecticut officials nonetheless expressed concerns Wednesday that declining state aid could soon be taking a toll on class sizes, academic aid and support services.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
The State Senate responded by upholding Malloy’s veto
The legislature, and the Senate in particular, did something remarkable. They voted not to override Gov. Dannel Malloy’s veto of Public Act 18-89, an Act Concerning Classroom Safety & Disruptive Behavior, a bill which received a unanimous vote in the Senate earlier in the session. While well-meaning in its intent, if passed into law, this act would have resulted in a tremendous set-back for our state in the area of school discipline and climate and would have also led to flagrant violations of students with disabilities qualified under the Individual with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA)
Posted inCT Viewpoints, Talking Transportation
Welcome to Connecticut, kinda sorta maybe
First impressions count. Arrive at any airport or train station, and you immediately start forming opinions of your destination. Is it clean and modern, warm and welcoming? How does the place make me feel? Are the locals proud of themselves? Well, the same “first impressions” rule is true when you are driving.
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 inEducation, Money
Proposed UConn budget could lead to more tuition hikes by 2020
With tuition and fees already slated to rise next fiscal year at the University of Connecticut, the Board of Trustees will consider a new budget Wednesday that could leave the flagship university facing additional hikes a year or two down the road.
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.