WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth Esty to encourage women entrepreneurs in the science, engineering, technology and math fields.
House approves Esty bill encouraging women entrepreneurs
Posted inNews
U.S. House approves Coltsville National Park fix
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to provide a fix to the legislation establishing the Coltsville National Historical Park in Hartford.
Posted inEducation, Money
Senate leader adds to calls for givebacks from state employees
The leader of the state Senate has joined the growing chorus of top state leaders calling for major givebacks from state employees to help close the state’s looming budget shortfalls.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics, Transportation
Struggle to balance current budget could help with future deficits
While legislators and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy scramble to close yet another hole in the current state budget, the exercise could help them solve a much larger problem. Depending on how they solve this fiscal year’s $220 million deficit — a task lawmakers have pledged to complete Tuesday — the $900 million hole built into 2016-17 finances could be whittled down by nearly one-quarter.
Posted inPolitics
Staff bolts again, but August Wolf says he’s still running
The troubled U.S. Senate campaign of Republican August Wolf is without a campaign manager for the second time in two months, but the Stamford businessman said Tuesday he is staying in the race and will announce a new team next week.
Posted inEducation
Session Notes: State college system freezes hiring
The president of the state’s largest public college system announced a hiring freeze Tuesday to cope with mid-year budget cuts to the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities system as the state closes its budget shortfalls.
Posted inHealth
Session Notes: Medical marijuana for minors bill advances
The Public Health Committee voted 20 to 7 Monday to move forward a proposal that would allow minors with certain medical conditions to use medical marijuana.
Posted inPolitics
Surprise winner for top line in CT Democratic primary
Cue the music. Rocky wins again. Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente, a petitioning candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, won the top ballot line Tuesday for Connecticut’s presidential primary. Ted Cruz won the top line in the GOP primary.
Posted inCT Viewpoints, Talking Transportation
Is Uber really a bargain for Connecticut riders?
In the almost two years since Uber rolled into Connecticut, the state’s car/taxi service business has been rocked to its core. But is Uber competing on the same level as taxis and car service companies? Of course not, which is why it’s so successful. I spoke with Uber’s Connecticut Manager Matt Powers and Drivers Unlimited (a Darien car and limo company) owner Randy Klein to try to get an objective comparison of the services. (Full disclosure: I have been a customer of both firms.)
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Examining the Republican candidates on education
There has been no substantive conversation about K-12 education in the Republican debates, town hall meetings, or candidate rallies. Attention has been on other issues, but education is crucial both for the individual future of each of our children and for the future of our nation. We voters deserve to know what the candidates would do as President about K-12 education. What follows are key topics about K-12 education and what the candidates have said about them so far.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Estate tax measure may preview 2017 state tax debate
The arguments surrounding a bill to eliminate Connecticut’s estate tax — a bill not expected to advance this year – might offer a preview of the battle some anticipate next year over the fairness of the state’s tax system.
Posted inPolitics
State Rep. Carter ‘seriously considering’ Blumenthal challenge
WASHINGTON — State Representative Dan Carter, a Republican from Bethel, is weighing a run against Sen. Richard Blumenthal. “I am seriously considering it,” Carter said. “So much so that I withdrew all my filings to run for re-election in the state assembly.”
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Don’t buy the Connecticut right wing’s propaganda
Special interests have declared war on state employees. Through spin mills like the Yankee Institute, they’ll tell you that we’re overpaid and don’t deserve it and have rich benefits that we don’t deserve. They’ll try to con you into supporting their scheme to take money out of our pockets and put it into theirs. Let them get away with it and your pockets will be next. That’s because, for them, the easy profits have gone overseas. The next mother lode is in your paycheck. Their profits will come from what they can take from you.
Posted inNews
Murphy takes dive under Arctic ice to better advocate for CT subs
WASHINGTON — Sen. Chris Murphy says one reason he spent the weekend under Arctic ice aboard the USS Hartford is to become a better advocate for the state’s shipbuilding industry and the Naval Submarine Base, New London.
Posted inHealth
Bill would limit new opioid prescriptions to seven-day supplies
New prescriptions for opioid medication to address non-chronic pain would be limited to a seven-day supply under a proposal state legislators from both parties are backing – one of several bills aimed at curbing a drug epidemic that killed, on average, more than one person per day in Connecticut last year.