WASHINGTON — While three GOP candidates for Connecticut’s congressional seats are enthusiastic about Trump, John Shaban, running in the 4th District, has not committed and two others have offered a cool embrace.
Some CT GOP challengers give Trump a cool embrace; most skipping convention
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Thumbs down on the SEEC settlement with state Dems
The the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) settled a long-running, high-profile case involving the Connecticut Democratic Party (CDP). Although the terms of the settlement are commendable in many respects–including imposing the largest election law violation fine (excuse me, “voluntary payment”) in state history–the SEEC exercised poor judgment in deciding to settle the case. Rightly or wrongly, justly or unjustly, the settlement creates the appearance that a major political party in Connecticut can “buy” its way out of an embarrassing investigation by the chief regulator of our state campaign finance laws.
Posted inEducation
UConn revokes Bill Cosby’s honorary degree
The University of Connecticut on Wednesday became the ninth university to revoke an honorary doctorate awarded to Bill Cosby. It was the first honorary degree the university has ever revoked.
Posted inHealth
State health exchange considers new transition fairs, adds hours
One week after the first pair of transition enrollment fairs drew just one attendee, Connecticut’s health insurance exchange announced Wednesday it plans to keep future fairs open for an additional hour and will consider scheduling new ones.
Posted inPolitics
A ‘day of action’ on both sides of America’s divide over firearms
FARMINGTON – If the gun lobby has a soft underbelly, congressional Democrats and their allies seem to be betting it is the refusal to compromise, especially on the issue of whether individuals barred from commercial airlines as a security risk should be able to purchase firearms.
Posted inNews
UConn trustees’ chair rejects call to rescind pay increases
Two Senate leaders wrote UConn President Susan Herbst Wednesday to object to hefty pay increases she awarded four of her top staff and to “call for more oversight over the compensation practices at UConn.” But the chairman of the school’s governing board vigorously defended the increases and rejected calls to rescind them.
Posted inEducation
UConn adopts a largely flat budget, asks for big increase next year
The University of Connecticut’s governing board Wednesday adopted a largely flat $1.3 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins Friday, retreating from years of rapid spending increases at the public university. But it is asking for a big increase in state funding next year to catch up on its Next Generation plan to increase enrollment and faculty.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Merger opponents ask DOJ to block Aetna-Humana, Anthem-Cigna deals
WASHINGTON – Opponents of the planned Aetna-Humana, Anthem-Cigna mergers have asked the U.S. Justice Department to block them in a letter that alludes to the controversy over Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Katharine Wade’s lead role in state regulatory approval of one of the deals.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Cost of SBAC testing in Connecticut is unconscionable, unnecessary
Education activists have been speaking out and pushing back against the misguided Common Core State Standards and the flawed Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) statewide test protocol for several years now, as they have become more aware of the billionaire-driven, media-complicit, and politically-entrenched “corporate education reform” agenda.
Posted inPolitics
CT Dems joined national Democrats in gun-control fundraising pitch
WASHINGTON — Republicans vying to unseat Connecticut Democrats say they are outraged by the attempt to raise political cash from what they characterized as exploitation of the mass shooting in Orlando earlier this month. Meanwhile, the Connecticut Democratic Party accused the GOP candidates of using their outrage to avoid taking a position on the gun control legislation at the center of the controversy.
Posted inPolitics
A gay GOP candidate’s struggle to steer clear of the culture wars
SHERMAN — Clay Cope, the first selectman of this quiet lake community of 3,694, got into the race for Congress at the urging of Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, who says Cope has a compelling story to tell about restoring Yankee virtues of pay-as-you-go frugality and limited government to a town that had fallen into debt. But if there is a formula for keeping God, guns and gays out of congressional politics in 2016, no one has shared it with Cope.
Posted inJustice, Money
Marshals file labor complaint over troopers at CT courthouses
The union representing Connecticut’s Judicial Branch marshals has filed a complaint with the Department of Labor charging that the hiring of state police to patrol outside courthouses violates its contract.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
New Americans and young voters to play growing role
Primary season is over, party conventions loom, and the general election will follow in November. New Americans and young voters may play pivotal roles in certain states and Congressional districts. According to a Pew study, “An estimated 69.2 million Millennials (adults ages 18-35 in 2016) were voting-age U.S. citizens … 31 percent of the voting-eligible population.” Yet actual “young-adult turnout depends on … the candidates, the success of voter mobilization efforts,” and other issues.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Labor costs, tax receipts, threaten new CT budget before it starts
With Connecticut’s new fiscal year set to begin Friday, serious issues — involving both spending and revenue — have arisen in recent weeks that challenge state government’s new spending plan before it’s even begun. And a major Wall Street credit rating agency questioned Monday whether Connecticut’s fiscal house is in order.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Orlando victims look to Sandy Hook lawsuit against gun maker
WASHINGTON — Families of those massacred in an Orlando nightclub are weighing whether to follow the Sandy Hook families that have filed a lawsuit against makers of assault rifles like the one Adam Lanza used to kill 20 first graders and six adults.