Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen joined 15 counterparts Monday in filing an amicus brief in support of Washington state’s lawsuit challenging President Trump’s executive order temporarily banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim nations.
Connecticut supports challenge of Trump’s immigration order
Posted inEducation, Money
Malloy proposes shaking up state education aid
NEW BRITAIN — Standing in the library of an elementary school that was at the center of a recent school-funding trial, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy Monday released his plans for redistributing existing levels of state education aid in ways he said would help the most impoverished school districts.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Jewish leaders oppose Trump’s executive order on immigration
We, the undersigned Jewish Federations throughout the State of Connecticut, along with JFACT (Jewish Federations Association of Connecticut) and the Anti-Defamation League of Connecticut, oppose President Trump’s Executive Order barring many refugees and immigrants from entering the United States. President Trump’s Executive Order, issued on Friday, January 27, bans any refugees from entering the United […]
Posted inEducation
School funding reform: Ideas and challenges aplenty
With the governor set to lay out his proposals for education aid this week, numerous advocacy groups, rank-and-file legislators and a group suing the state over school funding have been pitching changes they would like to see. The bulk of the ideas are not new – but most would be controversial or expensive.
Posted inMoney, Politics, Transportation
Transportation funding debate still centered on ‘lockbox’
While Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has released no transportation-related details from his next two-year budget plan, he also hasn’t backed away from his demand that legislators first back a constitutional ‘lockbox’ amendment to safeguard transportation revenues.
Posted inEducation, Money, Politics
Malloy: Pension bills for CT towns part of a larger plan
The shift of $400 million in teacher pension costs onto municipalities is part of a much larger plan not only to close a significant projected state deficit, but also to address long-ignored inequities in municipal funding, the governor said. More details of that plan are expected today.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
A century later, America’s values are betrayed again: A new ‘Asiatic Barred Zone’
History echoes in the Trump administration’s ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries. Our nation of immigrants has withstood periodic spasms of xenophobia – including creation of the “Asiatic Barred Zone” 100 years ago today. We must recall these errors to endure this era, too.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Debts to pay, fiscal and political, here and in Washington
While the ferment continued around the country over President Donald Trump’s temporary ban on immigration from seven predominantly Muslim nations, Connecticut on Monday was waking up to disturbing news of another kind: the Mirror’s in-depth series on the dire condition of state government’s finances.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Doc, now Rep. Petit, on health care, victims’ rights and small business
William Petit is one of 35 newly elected members of the Connecticut General Assembly, but he’s probably the only one whose November election made national news. He spoke with The Mirror about his new job as a legislator, changes in how doctors practice, diabetes, the federal health law, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s Second Chance Society criminal justice reform initiatives, victims’ rights, and the assumptions people have about him.
Posted inEducation, Politics
DeVos’ code words for creationism offshoot raise concerns about ‘junk science’
Betsy DeVos, President Trump’s pick for education secretary, says she supports science teaching that “allows students to exercise critical thinking.” This seemingly innocuous statement has raised alarms among science education advocates, and buoyed the hopes of conservative Christian groups that, if confirmed, DeVos may use the U.S. Department of Education to undermine the teaching of evolution in public schools.
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
Employers fret job-based coverage vulnerable in GOP health overhaul
As President Donald Trump promises a replacement for the Affordable Care Act that will provide “insurance for everybody,” employers worry Republican attempts to redo other parts of the insurance market could harm their much larger one.
Posted inPolitics
DoD, Lockheed Martin agreement cuts price of F-35
WASHINGTON — Under pressure from President Donald Trump to cut the cost of the F-35 program, the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin announced Friday they had reached agreement to lower the cost on the 10th lot of fighter jets by $728 million.
Posted inJustice, Politics
CT’s senators call Gorsuch extreme, but promise fair hearing
Connecticut’s two Democratic U.S. senators distanced themselves Friday from those would block the confirmation of President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court with the same tactics employed by Republicans against President Obama. But both suggested Neil Gorsuch’s conservatism may fall outside the legal mainstream.
Posted inEducation
Bridgeport superintendent who left amid turmoil lands new gig
Fran Rabinowitz – who resigned in December as the leader of Bridgeport Public Schools after it became clear the state would decline her request to intervene in her troubled district – has landed a new job as executive director of the Connecticut Assocation of Public School Superintendents.
Posted inHealth, Money
CT aims to compete in precision medicine. What will it take?
Connecticut has the potential to become a national leader in the growing field of precision medicine – but the state will have to chip in, scientists and industry officials told a state economic competitiveness panel Friday.