With Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposal less than seven weeks away, his budget director warned that unless unions grant further concessions, avoiding major tax hikes likely would require significant cuts to municipal aid, social services, higher education — and more layoffs.
Union concessions still key focal point in a time of hard tradeoffs
Posted inMoney, Politics
New Year’s brings little to celebrate for CT fuel cell industry
WASHINGTON — Congress dealt a key – and growing – Connecticut industry a blow by failing to extend a fuel cell tax break at the end of the year – an omission that could cost the state jobs.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Nonprofits must be part of CT health, social service and budget solutions
Amid the negativity and divisiveness this election season, one issue has brought together Americans from across the country and both sides of the political aisle: the role of charitable nonprofits. In a recent report, nearly three quarters of those surveyed said they trust public charities with their checkbooks more than government and want to see expanded access to charitable giving.
Posted inNews
Analyst: Trump’s idea for F-35 would be ‘a disaster for the U.S.’
WASHINGTON — While President-elect Donald Trump is unhappy about the cost of Lockheed Martin’s F-35, replacing it with a cheaper jet would face serious problems, defense analysts and Connecticut’s lawmakers say. Loren Thompson, a defense analyst with the Lexington Institute, called Trump’s idea “a disaster for the United States” that would hurt the nation’s military strength.
Posted inEducation
Former CT college leader Meotti lands West Coast gig
Michael Meotti, a former higher education leader in Connecticut who resigned in 2012 amid a furor over pay raises for his subordinates, has landed a new job in Washington state.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Recent Connecticut pedestrian fatalities were not accidents at all
As a young transportation engineer I have been stunned and saddened to read about the spate of pedestrian collisions throughout this state. In a recent six-day span, eight people were hit, and six were killed, on Connecticut roads. These terrible collisions have led many in the community to plead with drivers to slow down and to put their phones away in this holiday season. I could not agree more. Putting your phone down and taking your foot off the gas could make the difference in saving a life. However, this plea doesn’t go far enough.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
A visit from St. LaPierre
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the bunker,
alarm codes were set; we were ready to hunker.
The children were nestled all snug in their cots
and protected by spring guns. (Each held 17 shots.)
Our holsters were hung by the bedstead with care,
with hopes that St. LaPierre soon would be there…. (cont.)
Posted inHealth
Hospitals worry Medicaid, Obamacare changes could bring pain
With the potential for major changes in federal health care policy looming, hospital leaders are watching closely, worried especially that cuts to Medicaid could bring a big financial hit and that a repeal of Obamacare could raise the number of uninsured Connecticut residents.
Posted inPolitics
Looney says his kidney function is normal after transplant
Sen. President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, said in a telephone interview Thursday night that post-operative blood tests show that the kidney transplanted Tuesday from his friend, Superior Court Judge Brian T. Fischer, is functioning well.
Posted inPolitics
Trump zings F-35, asks Boeing to offer F-18 alternative
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump on Thursday again slammed Lockheed Martin’s F-35 “cost overruns,” saying on Twitter he’s asked Boeing to compete with an updated version of the venerable F-18.
Posted inPolitics
Deal gives Democrats edge in evenly split CT Senate
Senate Democrats and Republicans finalized a deal Thursday on how an evenly divided Senate will operate in 2017, agreeing that Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, will remain as the top leader, while sharing some authority with the GOP.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Why Connecticut should consider ranked-choice voting
While voters and political pundits alike are still hashing out what exactly happened on November 8, there is one conclusion about the election that most cannot deny: many voters felt they didn’t have adequate choices. But rather than wait for “good choices” to pop out of the nether regions, there is something we can do now to make sure elections like 2016 do not happen again. A potential cure to the ailment of bad choices is in reforming the way in which we elect our leaders, through a system called Ranked Choice Voting.
Posted inEducation
Another push to delay linking teacher evaluations with test scores
More time is needed before requiring that teachers be evaluated based in part on student test scores, says the panel the State Board of Education relies on for advice in such matters. The state board has pushed back the deadline for doing so year after year, and the last time members said it would be the last.
Posted inHealth
Aetna-Humana antitrust trial wraps up before questioning judge
WASHINGTON — The antitrust trial over a proposed merger between Aetna and Humana wrapped up Wednesday, with U.S. District Court Judge John Bates asking probing questions of both Justice Department lawyers seeking to block the deal and attorneys for the insurers defending their plan.
Posted inPolitics
Looney’s to do list: Legalize pot, raise minimum wage, etc.
Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, was busy before his hospitalization Tuesday for a kidney transplant, filing bills that would, among other things, create a paid family-and-medical leave system, raise the minimum wage and legalize marijuana. He also would offer a benefit for organ donors, though not retroactively.