DARIEN — There is a cautious optimism about the next four years in much of lower Fairfield County. Many residents are hopeful that President-elect Donald J. Trump will usher in an era of economic growth not seen over the last eight years. This is the second in a series of visits to Connecticut towns leading up to the inauguration.
In Darien, residents hope Trump will bring economic growth
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut should create an ‘Office of Economic Diversity’
The State of Connecticut has wisely established a Manufacturing Innovation Fund (MIF), with $70 million to support this critical sector of our state economy. That fund should take a small portion of its reserves — $250,000 annually is a modest but reasonable amount — to set up an Office of Economic Diversity. The Office is Economic Diversity could be used as a data analysis and research coordinator, resource center and point of catalyst for encouraging start-ups of new tech companies and repositioning of current manufacturers towards commercial markets.
Posted inPolitics
In East Haven, a split on what kind of change Trump will bring
EAST HAVEN — As President-elect Donald J. Trump prepares to be sworn in Friday, a middle-aged woman who cast her first presidential for Trump is ready to celebrate him as the new Ronald Reagan. An unemployed landscaper just hopes Trump can bring him a job. This is the first in a series of reports on visits to Connecticut towns leading up to the inauguration.
Posted inJustice
Moody’s settles with AG, to pay Connecticut $31.5 million
A lawsuit originated by the state attorney general’s office in 2010 against one of the villains in “The Big Short,” the book-and-movie depiction of the factors behind the 2008 market collapse, ended Friday with an $864 million national settlement that will bring Connecticut’s general fund $31.5 million.
Posted inPolitics
Special elections are Feb. 28, but real contests are sooner
Special elections to fill three state legislative vacancies are scheduled for Feb. 28, but the identities of the successors to Eric Coleman of Bloomfield and Rob Kane of Watertown in the Senate and Stephen Dargan of West Haven in the House probably will be known by Jan. 23.
Posted inPolitics
Despite CT lawmakers’ opposition, Congress approves Mattis waiver
WASHINGTON — Despite opposition from every member of the Connecticut congressional delegation, a bill containing a waiver that would let retired Gen. James Mattis serve as defense secretary is on its way to President Obama, who says he will sign it.
Posted inPolitics
Lockheed Martin CEO tells Trump deal is near on F-35s
WASHINGTON — “I’m glad I had the opportunity to tell him that we are close to a deal that will bring the cost down significantly from the previous lot of aircraft to the next lot of aircraft,” CEO Marillyn Hewson told reporters at Trump Tower.
Posted inPolitics
Malloy to attend inaugural as ‘signal we are not going away’
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, a Democratic supporter of Hillary Clinton from her announcement through the primary season to her defeat on Nov. 8, said Friday he had decided after “much consideration” to attend the inauguration of Donald J. Trump, where he will be seated with other governors.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Time again for a poet governor
It’s time we elect a poet as governor of Connecticut. We’ve had a seemingly endless series of professional politicians, lawyers, and businesspeople on the ballot. Let’s vote for change. Although I’m as fatigued as anyone by the long presidential campaign, it’s not too early to look ahead and see who will lead our state in two years. Candidates are already throwing their hats in the ring.
Posted inJustice
One legislator’s solitary campaign against family court judges
Toxic marriages, epic custody fights and an inner-city lawmaker’s willingness to antagonize colleagues and dress down family court judges seeking reappointment came together this week in an extraordinarily raw day of judicial confirmation hearings at the General Assembly.
Posted inEducation
Pay for charter school leaders fuels funding debate
Compensation for leaders of the state’s largest network of charter schools, Achievement First, has increased by $100,000 since 2009 – and now rivals the pay of superintendents in the state’s wealthiest or largest districts. The Connecticut Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union and a fierce opponent of the growth of privately operated charter schools, made an issue of pay for top charter school officials Thursday.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Blumenthal calls Sessions hostile to civil rights, will oppose confirmation
WASHINGTON — Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Thursday that he will oppose the confirmation of fellow Sen. Jeff Sessions as U.S. attorney general because his colleague from Alabama has a record that “reflects a hostility and antipathy and downright opposition to civil rights.”
Posted inPolitics
Dan Drew nudges Malloy with exploratory committee for 2018
Middletown Mayor Dan Drew became the first Democrat to take a formal step toward running for governor in 2018 by opening an exploratory committee Thursday, a sign not all Democrats will indefinitely wait for their party’s titular leader, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, to say if he is seeking a third term.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers vote against waiver for defense secretary nominee Mattis
WASHINGTON — Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Thursday voted against granting retired Marine Gen. James Mattis a waiver that would allow him to serve as President-elect Donald Trump’s secretary of defense. Blumenthal was only one of three members of the Senate Armed Services Committee to vote against a waiver.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
New legislative balance brings hope for Connecticut businesses
This recession also dampened the normally optimistic view of the future for many of the state’s residents, evident in the polling and focus groups CBIA conducted throughout the 2016 election season. But because of the resiliency of Connecticut businesses and their workforces, our companies are competing and winning every day.Employers are heartened by the hope that the new balance in the state legislature will lead to more bipartisanship, and therefore better policy choices, as they are by Gov. Dannel Malloy’s emphasis on a more predictable and stable fiscal environment for businesses in his Opening Day address to the General Assembly.