“CT legislature undermining the future of its higher education system” by CCSU Professor John O’Connor makes a lot of sense. However, I object to the title because it may be wrong to indict our representatives. Certainly recent budget issues are focusing our media, but I think it’s not just legislators or leaders who are failing […]
‘Starvation mode’ for Connecticut, our nation’s richest state?
Posted inPolitics
Aresimowicz’ challenging path as House leader and union man
Sal Luciano of AFSCME Council 4 does not hide his displeasure with House Majority Leader Joe Aresimowicz over his role in passing a budget that cuts services and eliminates state jobs rather than following labor’s prescription of raising taxes on the rich. And Luciano is more than just another union bigwig. He is Aresimowicz’s boss.
Posted inHealth
Uninsured rates dropping in Connecticut and across the country
Nine out of 10 working-age adults in the United States were covered by health insurance last year, and the number of uninsured continues to decline, according to new figures released by the federal government.
Posted inEducation, Politics
Teachers object to Obama administration plan for poor schools
WASHINGTON — As the Obama administration rolls out rules on how to implement the nation’s new federal education law, one proposal could shake up how money is spent on schools in the state’s poor neighborhoods.
Posted inNews
UConn considers options for complying with new overtime rule
Public and private employers throughout Connecticut who pay their salaried employees less than $47,476 a year will soon have a choice: start paying them for overtime work or boost their pay to at least that threshold.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Murphy, Blumenthal say Supreme Court diminished by vacancy
WASHINGTON – Pressing for a vote on President Obama’s stalled nomination of Merrick Garland for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, Sen. Chris Murphy said the nation may be heading for an “era” when there will be fewer than nine justices to interpret the nation’s laws.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
A new Connecticut optimism is young, energetic — and socialistic
A 2011 Pew poll reported a higher opinion of socialism than capitalism among those aged 18 to 30. I doubted it, must be a fluke, and paid no attention. Five years later on the New Haven Green, on college campuses, in workplaces and neighborhoods I see this opinion taking positive shape.
Posted inHealth
Can an apartment cut health care costs of homeless ‘super users’?
Connecticut is part of a national demonstration program aimed at finding a new way to address the needs of homeless health care “super users.” It’s designed to test the questions: Can housing and support be the answer? Can it save money? And can it be sustainable?
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT lawmakers seek more money as House, Senate split on Zika funds
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have split on how to fund federal efforts to fight the Zika virus, with Connecticut lawmakers playing key roles in trying to boost the amount of money that would go to states to battle the spread of the disease.
Posted inHealth
Malloy signs medical marijuana for minors bill
The measure takes effect Oct. 1 and would apply to minors with one of five medical conditions. They must have permission from two doctors and a parent or guardian.
Posted inPolitics
Merrill, DMV agree to boost ‘motor voter’ registration in 2018
It will take two years to develop, but the secretary of the state’s office and the Department of Motor Vehicles have signed an agreement to produce a system that will automatically register eligible DMV customers to vote.
Posted inNews
LOB is evacuated after power strip catches fire
The Legislative Office Building was evacuated Tuesday after a power strip in a legislator’s office overheated and caught fire, Capitol police said. Chief Walter Lee quickly extinguished the fire, but employees were being kept out of the building while the electrical system was checked for damage, police said.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
CT legislature undermining the future of its higher education system
Gov. Dannel Malloy announced last week that TheDream.US, the largest privately funded national scholarship program, will be dispersing hundreds of scholarships to undocumented immigrant students to attend ECSU. Bravo!
But while Gov. Malloy can applaud the disbursement of hundreds of thousands of dollars in private scholarships, he falls flat when it comes to supporting those very institutions poised to make the biggest impact on our state’s young people and their ability to succeed.
Posted inPolitics
In 4th Congressional District, Shaban gears up to take on Himes
The race to represent Fairfield County in Congress pits a former Rhodes scholar and Wall Street whiz kid against an attorney and former semi-pro football star with roots in local politics.
Posted inEducation
Coming to a high school near you: financial aid for college courses
Starting next school year, hundreds of children from low-income Connecticut families will have a chance to complete their first year of college entirely for free – while they are still in high school, federal officials announced Monday.