Out of left field on May 4, the legislature’s bipartisan efficiency committee, Program Review & Investigations, took a direct hit of 50 percent of its personnel in the negotiated budget. The committee staff was not previously targeted by the Democratic, Republican, or governor’s proposed budget cut lists — the evisceration appeared overnight. Now, for the sake of saving $750,000, the state is destroying the very committee that saved taxpayers $89.5 million in FY 2010 and $111.9 million in 2011. How could anyone think this a logical decision?
Gutting legislature’s program review staff makes no sense
Posted inPolitics
Malloy keeps things running at often-raucous Dem platform meeting
At times the room was raucous, especially when Sen. Bernie Sanders lost on a key issue concerning a trade pact with Pacific Rim nations, but Gov. Dannel Malloy was able to keep Democrats moving forward Saturday on the party’s platform.
Posted inPolitics
Rep. Mary G. Fritz of Wallingford dies at 78
State Rep. Mary G. Fritz, D-Wallingford, an independent-minded social conservative who was one of the longest-serving legislators in the history of the Connecticut General Assembly, died early Saturday after a yearlong battle with cancer.
Posted inPolitics
Amid Democratic discord, Malloy takes reins of party platform committee
Gov. Dannel Malloy presided Friday over the Democratic Platform Committee meeting in Orlando, Fla., an event held under the pall of the shooting deaths of five police officers the night before in Dallas and shootings this week by police officers of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. The platform is usually overshadowed by the drama of officially nominating candidates for president and vice president at the convention. But not this year.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut must pause, grieve, and strive to be better
Over the last week, the nation has witnessed horror. The events have shocked our collective soul. They have been jolts to our conscience – both in Connecticut and across the country – that require a moment of mass reflection.
Posted inEducation
Top UConn staff to forgo part of their controversial pay increases
Bowing to pressure from legislative leaders, University of Connecticut President Susan Herbst late Friday announced three top staff members who have received hefty, multi-year pay raises or bonuses will forgo part of those increases.
Posted inPolitics
After Dallas shooting, Murphy knocks Congress for inaction on gun control
WASHINGTON — Connecticut’s members of Congress called for calm, prayers, healing and justice in the wake of the shooting of five police officers in Dallas and the slaying by police of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. But Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., also slammed Congress for inaction on gun control.
Posted inMoney
Early report shows state cut overtime costs by $33 million
The savings are a 13.9 percent reduction from the previous fiscal year. In total, 25 state agencies reduced overtime pay.
Posted inEducation
At UConn, management costs increase $4M over four years
The University of Connecticut has steadily increased its executive and manager ranks over the last four years – while research staff and library positions have been declining. But a comparison with eight institutions it considers its peers shows UConn in the middle of the pack.
Posted inHealth
Access Health CT faces growing challenges as insurers drop out
In the wake of a state order halting new enrollment in Connecticut’s co-op health insurer, HealthyCT, the state’s health insurance exchange faces growing challenges as it prepares to lose two of its four carriers.
Posted inEnergy & Environment, Politics
House approves measure that would halt Plum Island sale
WASHINGTON — Those who want to prevent the development of Plum Island won a key victory Thursday as the U.S. House of Representatives approved a measure that would stop the sale of the island that for years has been the site of a biological lab and off limits to most of the public.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT Dems take stand on opioid funding – and lose
WASHINGTON — Despite protests and high drama over the level of money the federal government will spend fighting heroin addiction and prescription pain pill abuse, Democrats lost their battle this week to increase federal funds by nearly $1 billion to pay for additional treatment for addicts.
Posted inNews
Jepsen concerned about Anthem-Cigna deal, may move to block it
WASHINGTON — Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen said he is concerned an Anthem-Cigna merger would result in decreased competition and higher premiums and will make a decision in as soon as two weeks whether to try to block it in court.
Posted inJustice, Money
Marshals drop labor complaint over police guards at CT courts
Connecticut’s judicial marshals dropped their labor complaint Thursday against the Judicial Branch — a move prompted by court officials’ decision to stop using state police to secure urban courthouses.
Posted inJustice
Feds: Spending on CT jails grew faster than on education
The amount Connecticut state and local governments spend on jails and prisons has increased almost twice as fast as spending on education over the last 40 years, the federal government reported Thursday. However, Connecticut’s disparity in spending grew at the second-lowest rate in the country.