WASHINGTON — After a federal judge blocked the deal last month, Aetna on Tuesday announced it would no longer pursue a $37 billion merger with Humana. U.S. District Judge John Bates ruled last month that a merger of the health insurers would result in a lack of competition in the Medicare Advantage market.
Aetna ends bid to acquire Humana
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Save — and improve — Connecticut’s Citizen’s Election Program
Connecticut has a unique voluntary public financing program for state elected offices. The Citizens’ Election Program is designed to encourage a broader range of people to seek public office. It is also designed to help increase competition and decrease the influence of “big money” donors. Connecticut now faces a serious current budget and longer-term fiscal sustainability challenge. As a result, some are calling for elimination of the state’s voluntary public campaign financing system. In my view, doing so would be inappropriate.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Data contradicts popular myths about towns’ ability to pay
In an article published in the Connecticut Mirror dated February 10 (“Legislators begin to push back on Malloy’s new budget”), Ben Barnes, budget director for Gov. Dannel Malloy, supports shifting tens of millions of dollars of school and other expenses to the towns. This shift, besides being a likely economic impossibility, ignores the fact that Connecticut is one of 33 states without a local income tax option.
Posted inMoney
Budget tracker 2017: See proposed cuts, taxes and new spending
The Mirror’s budget tracker will help you keep track of proposals to cut spending, increase spending or raise taxes and fees – and to help you determine what ultimately gets passed. Here’s Round 1, the governor’s proposal.
Posted inJustice
Malloy’s new pitch for bail and juvenile justice reforms
A year after legislators rebuffed him, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is back with revised versions of proposals that would reform Connecticut’s bail system and expand the jurisdiction of its juvenile courts, issues that have edged closer to the mainstream of criminal-justice thinking in the U.S.
Posted inHealth
CT would protect Planned Parenthood Medicaid funds under Malloy proposal
As Republicans in Congress seek to cut off federal funds to Planned Parenthood, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has proposed legislation that would allow the state to make up any federal Medicaid dollars the clinics would lose.
Posted inJustice, Money, Politics
Pistol permit fee hikes prompt NRA, others to rebuke Malloy
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposal to bolster state pistol permitting fees drew a sharp response from the National Rifle Association, a Connecticut-based advocacy group and top Republican officials.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Charter schools pose financial risk to municipalities
In December of last year, the Connecticut Department of Education issued a request for proposals for new charter schools – the first time in nearly three years. As the state grapples with a budget disaster and Gov. Dannel Malloy continues to propose changes that would dramatically change the way Connecticut pays for education, the state should refrain from opening any new charter schools and freeze the funding of existing ones.
Posted inTransportation
Feeling heat from CT, feds say they may alter high-speed rail plan
WASHINGTON — In the staredown between the Federal Railroad Administration and opponents of a part of its plan in Connecticut to bring high-speed rail to the Northeast Corridor, the federal government has blinked. It has agreed to consider additional input from those concerned about the route the plan would take in Connecticut, and more importantly, the FRA is willing to modify that plan.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Cigarette tax hike: Promoting health or penalizing the poor?
Although everyone agrees smoking is harmful, and smoking has declined as the cigarette tax has risen, some oppose hiking it further because it disproportionally impacts low-income people, who smoke at higher rates.
Posted inEducation
Yale’s Calhoun College renamed after female mathematician
The Yale Corporation voted to make the change Saturday after months of protest over the residential college’s being named for John C. Calhoun, a U.S. senator who was a leading 19th century voice against the abolition of slavery.
Posted inEducation
Richard McHugh on teaching in Hartford: ‘We are a second home for many’
Richard McHugh teaches in an inner-city public school where boarded-up houses are the view from his classroom, police sirens often interrupt instruction and three out of every five of his students speak limited English. As the legislature once again addresses how to help struggling public schools such as his, McHugh tells why he loves his students – and his job – so much.
Posted inNews
The big budget lands hard
The state budget was last week’s big focus for Connecticut lawmakers and policymakers. It almost took attention off the continued political fireworks in Washington, D.C.
Posted inEducation, Politics
Worried Betsy DeVos could ‘destroy’ public education? Here’s what you should know
Betsy DeVos earned more opposition than any of President Trump’s cabinet picks — and any nominee for education secretary in history. Now that DeVos has been confirmed, here’s what you should read to start getting a handle on the possibilities.
Posted inHealth, Politics
‘Massive confusion’ abounds for insurers as GOP wavers on Obamacare redo
Premiums for Obamacare plans sold by New Mexico Health Connections could rise as little as 7 percent next year, says Martin Hickey, the insurance company’s CEO. Or they might soar as much as 40 percent, he said. It all depends on what happens in Washington.