So much information to process to make informed decisions in a short amount of time: budget cuts everywhere, systems continue to fail our children and families regarding livable paying jobs, institutional racism/ageism/sexism/etc., affordable housing, brown fields destroying our environment, fear of terrorists attacks in a place we all call home, access to affordable quality childcare in all spaces and places…the list goes on and on! Our fight for equity where? How important is it to the collective us? Why are we letting this system dictate our destiny when we never signed up for this?
Parent voices matter in our democracy today
Posted inHealth, Politics
Insurers: Repeal of ACA should go slowly, keep subsidies awhile
WASHINGTON – As Republicans in Congress begin work on a repeal of the Affordable Care Act, the nation’s health insurers are telling lawmakers to keep paying subsidies to the companies and to low-income Americans so they can afford coverage. Insurers are also asking that Congress create a long transition period before changes to the ACA take effect.
Posted inHealth
Access Health says 104,495 signed up for insurance that began Jan. 1
That figure represents customers who met the first coverage deadline for Obamacare plans, Dec. 15.
Posted inNews
With visit to Malloy, tribes renew push for I-91 casino bill in 2017
The Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribal nations signaled Friday with a real-estate announcement and a visit to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy that they are ready to press for legislation authorizing a casino in East Windsor or Windsor Locks to compete with an MGM gambling resort under construction in Springfield.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Malloy to Congress: Obamacare repeal would be ‘disastrous’
But the governor also said he would work with Congress to make improvements to the existing health care system, and Insurance Commissioner Katharine L. Wade recommended several areas for improving the federal health law.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
In a lean budget year, invest in Connecticut’s people
Connecticut residents and lawmakers grappling with the state’s fiscal challenges should start the New Year with one goal in mind: to build thriving communities across our state. Economic development policy should focus on investing in our people and our workforce by protecting the public systems such as education and health care that undergird a strong economy . Despite the headline-grabbing “business climate” rankings that bear little relationship to economic growth or actual tax climates, there’s more to economic development and tax policy than rates alone —businesses seek educated and productive workforces because it pays off.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Obama, the laziest president, demonstrates the problem with politics
President Obama has been largely a “sidelines-quarterback.” His nickname of “No-Drama Obama” was earned by a full eight years of never getting out of first gear and assiduously refusing to exert and effort beyond the minimal. However, now it seems that he has suddenly come to life and is rushing to get some things put on his list of accomplishments. He came back from his latest vacation apparently with the intention to finally get some things done in his last few weeks. It seems as if he would like to be remembered for perhaps more than the president who has taken the most vacation time, spent the most on vacations (nearly $100 million), and logged more rounds of golf than any other president in history
Posted inCities & Towns, Energy & Environment, Transportation
Movement to complete state’s trails gaining momentum
For more than two decades, most of the new multi-use trails built in the state were almost entirely the work of local volunteers. In the past five years, however, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and his transportation commissioner, James Redeker, have turned that narrative on its head. The state is now including non-motorized trails in its planning efforts and making major investments in them.
Posted inPolitics
Aresimowicz changes co-chairs at Finance, Labor committees
Updated Friday, Jan. 6
House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, shook up committee leadership assignments in his second day as speaker Thursday, including the removal of Rep. Jeffrey Berger of Waterbury, his one-time rival for majority leader, as co-chair of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Murphy tries, but fails, to block ACA repeal
WASHINGTON — Congress has taken the first step toward repealing the Affordable Care Act, and Sen. Chris Murphy on Thursday was on the front lines of Democratic efforts to stop, or at least slow, the process. “There is a cruelty to this enthusiasm for immediate repeal that is a little bit hard to understand,” Murphy said.
Posted inMoney
Future payment scheme takes a heavy present toll on state pension fund
The latest valuation of Connecticut’s state employee pension fund, which assumes the plan pending before the legislature would be ratified, shows it would push the fund into its worst fiscal shape in three decades.
Posted inPolitics
Scott Bates succeeds Spallone as deputy SOTS
Secretary of the State Denise Merrill on Thursday named Scott Bates of Stonington, a lawyer with a deep resume in domestic and foreign policy and politics, as the deputy secretary of the state, a position that provides legal and political advice.
Posted inNews
Navy moves forward on new Columbia-class submarines
The Navy has officially approved the start of detailed design and engineering work on what will be the priciest sub its fleet has ever had – good news for Electric Boat in Groton and its subcontractors.
Posted inHealth
What ‘repeal-replace’ could mean for your employer health plan
If you’re like most Connecticut residents and get your health insurance through an employer, chances are the future of Obamacare doesn’t have nearly as much bearing on your coverage. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing at stake for you as federal lawmakers look to repeal and replace the health law.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy warns of need for concessions, smaller government, new aid formulas
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy set the stage Wednesday in his 2017 State of the State address for a protracted and difficult debate on how to further shrink state government, extract more concessions from unions on pension and health benefits, and better focus a smaller pool of state aid for education to the systems most in need. Any one would be difficult.