WASHINGTON – At a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Rep. Rosa DeLauro sought support for her resolution condemning the separation of immigrant children from their parents at the border. DeLauro’s resolution has an uphill climb in a GOP Congress, but her effort amplifies the Democratic outcry over the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy on immigration.
DeLauro: Splitting immigrant kids from parents is ‘child abuse’
Posted inPolitics
Malloy’s fifth veto: The new DCF oversight bill
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy vetoed a measure Wednesday that would have created a new, legislature-controlled, oversight council for the Department of Children and Families, calling it “a significant intrusion by the legislative branch” in executive authority.
Posted inPolitics
Courtney, other Dems, probe claims of harassment, racial disparities at Coast Guard Academy
WASHINGTON – Concerned about complaints of sexual harassment and bullying at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Rep. Joe Courtney and two other Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday asked the new Coast Guard commander, Admiral Karl Shultz, for information and internal records that would aid them in an investigation of racial disparity and harassment.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
The need to act regionally has never been more important
If the opportunity for shared or regional services is to be realized, there needs to be a comprehensive realignment of which level of government — state, local or regional — should be responsible for what. Possibilities are open for strengthening and maximizing the opportunities provided by Connecticut’s regional Councils of Government (COGs) for the efficient, effective and economic delivery of needed services. However, reforms must be enacted.
Posted inPolitics
Early count has Ganim on path to qualify for primary
Bridgeport Mayor Joseph P. Ganim seemed assured Tuesday night of qualifying for a Democratic primary for governor, setting the stage for a summer campaign by the ex-con mayor against the convention-endorsed favorite, Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont. As of 4 p.m., Ganim had 7,612 signatures already authenticated and tabulated — nearly half of what he needs to force a primary. He says he collected and filed 32,000 to be safe.
Posted inPolitics
Murphy: Trump ‘unprepared, weak negotiator’ at North Korea summit
WASHINGTON – Reaction in Congress to President Donald Trump’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un split largely along party lines on Tuesday with the bulk of Republicans largely celebratory and Democrats saying they were concerned Kim got the better of the president. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., was one of the harshest critics of the summit.
Posted inHealth
As opioid deaths soar, Esty backs bill that pays for more medical examiners
U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty Tuesday said she will propose legislation that will provide $10 million for police forensics and to help pay for more medical examiners. The Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is currently on provisional accreditation status because it has too few examiners to meet current demand.
Posted inPolitics
Julio Concepcion takes seat in Connecticut House
Julio Concepcion, a vice president at the MetroHartford Alliance and a Hartford city councilman, was sworn in Tuesday as a member of the state House of Representatives, bringing the House to full strength and the Democratic advantage back to 80-71.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
XL Center area development needs discussion — not eminent domain threat
It seems that Sen. Len Fasano and his Republican caucus prevented the Capitol Region Development Authority from pulling a fast one last month. Word surfaced on Tuesday the 22nd that the CRDA planned to initiate action at its meeting later that week to seize by eminent domain the section of the XL Center owned by Northland Investment Corp. A letter from Fasano and other Senate Republicans led the CRDA to remove the proposal from its agenda.
Posted inPolitics
O’Neill says she’ll use ‘guts’ and life experience to win Esty’s seat
Ruby Corby O’Neill says she’s a unique candidate in Connecticut GOP politics. “Republicans traditionally have not been successful with Latinos and women, and I am both.” She says her “guts” and independence will help propel her to Congress.
Posted inEducation
Malloy, Herbst welcome new UConn Engineering and Science Building
University of Connecticut President Susan Herbst and Gov. Dannel Malloy shared a celebratory moment Monday afternoon as they joined students, faculty, legislators, and industry partners in cutting the ribbon to the university’s new $95 million Engineering and Science Building.
Posted inPolitics
A cordial GOP debate, until Malloy is mentioned
NEW HAVEN — In the first debate since the Republican field of gubernatorial candidates shed a half-dozen candidates, a quartet of GOP contenders talked tough Monday night about immigrants, state spending, tolls, public-sector unions and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy — pretty much everything and everyone but each other.
Posted inPolitics
Lumaj gives Stefanowski a boost from the right
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski landed an endorsement Monday from Peter Lumaj, a former rival who had built his campaign around an identity as a deeply conservative supporter of Second Amendment rights and a candidate unapologetically loyal to President Trump.
Posted inCT Viewpoints, Talking Transportation
Connecticut: Love it or, okay, leave it
The recent debate over tolling our highways should remind us of just how divided our state has become. Not red vs. blue and not even just upstate vs. downstate. The real divide is between those who commute by car vs. those who take mass transit. I’ve written for years about the fact that riders on Metro-North pay the highest commuter rail fares in the U.S., and those fares will only keep going up. Most rail riders have little choice, especially if headed to New York City. What are they going to do… drive?
Posted inMoney
Report: State pension costs still could reach ‘unaffordable’ levels
Despite numerous reforms in recent years, state government’s pension costs still could reach “unaffordable” levels in the early 2030s, according to a new “stress test” analysis prepared for the Pew Charitable Trusts.