The FBI director James B. Comey did his best Friday to disappear into a crowded hearing room at the Legislative Office Building, not an easy task for a man who stands six-feet, eight inches tall and travels with a pack of bodyguards. He was there to support his wife, Patrice, an advocate for foster children.
It’s the FBI, but no reason to panic at legislature
Posted inPolitics
In ’16 fight for Assembly, winner gets to pick up a big tab
It’s a question that draws knowing smiles, solemn nods and the occasional nervous laugh from Republicans: Given the depth of Connecticut’s fiscal crisis, would the GOP actually be better off remaining as the General Assembly’s minority party for at least another two years?
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut is struggling to implement anti-concussion measures
Though the Centers for Disease Control maintain that concussions are a significant public health problem, Connecticut —once a pioneer in concussion legislation— struggles to implement basic safety measures. While other states laws mandate athletic trainers for contact sport events, limit contact practices, and penalize officials who fail to follow concussion protocols, it is difficult in Connecticut to implement basic policies to educate coaches, parents and athletes on concussion safety.
Posted inEducation, Transportation
School bus seat belt funding goes unused except to reduce deficits
It’s been six years since legislators overwhelmingly approved a tax incentive and license fees to encourage schools to buy school buses equipped with seat belts. But not a single school district has used the program, and much of the money put aside has gone to offset state deficits.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Sports and the campus climate for women: ‘It’s on us’ men
The reported expulsion of a former Yale men’s basketball captain for alleged sexual misconduct that he disputes — and the team’s apology as teammates balance personal loyalty with support for “a healthy, safe and respectful campus climate”— can raise awareness at universities and beyond.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut’s future should be based on policy, not politics
Connecticut’s next generation boasts many policy-oriented leaders. As millennials, we are sick and tired of problems being created or solutions postponed. We want solutions, and we will provide them by acting on our convictions. We pride ourselves on several core principles that define our generation – the values of innovation, choice, opportunity and empowerment.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Phase out the tax on ambulatory surgical centers
Regarding CT House Bill 5493, phasing out the tax on ambulatory surgical centers. The tax structure ought to be enabling and empowering surgical centers to achieve the Triple Aim in order to bend the rate of increase of the unsustainable per-capita cost of health care — especially since surgical centers deliver the goods that are expected of them to our friends and neighbors.
Posted inHealth
Doctors ponder delicate talks as Medicare pays for end-of-life counsel
JUPITER, Florida — She didn’t want to spend the rest of her days seeing doctors, the 91-year-old woman confessed to Dr. Kevin Newfield as he treated a deep wound on her arm. “You don’t have to, but you have to tell me what you do want,” Newfield replied. “I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid […]
Posted inHealth, Politics
Murphy mental health bill wins big bipartisan support – after some changes
WASHINGTON — A key committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to send a mental health bill sponsored by Sen. Chris Murphy to the Senate floor, but not until certain provisions were dropped.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics
Malloy orders more cuts as lawmakers vow to close deficit by April 1
While legislators committed Wednesday to close a $220 million hole in state finances by March 31, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ordered $79 million in emergency cuts, two-thirds of which hit social service agencies and education.
Posted inPolitics
CT senators say Supreme Court nominee Garland has a chance
WASHINGTON — Despite a huge Republican wall of resistance to having President Obama fill the Supreme Court seat of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, Connecticut’s Democratic senators say there’s a chance of confirmation.
Posted inPolitics
Senate blocks bill that would nullify CT GMO labeling law
Updated at 1:25 p.m.
WASHINGTON — The Senate blocked a bill Wednesday that would set national voluntary labeling standards for genetically modified foods and bar states like Connecticut from setting their own rules.
Posted inPolitics
Malloy hires corporate customer-service expert at DMV
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy named a new team Wednesday, including a retired corporate executive with experience fixing customer service systems, to oversee the outsized headache the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles has become.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut must encourage millennials to stay — and here’s how
We’ve all heard it over and over—Connecticut is having a rough go of it lately. While it’s easy to latch on to the negativity, for many of us, there is true frustration about the lack of conversation around what is working in our state. What we should be focusing on are the bright spots and programs that are working to help find solutions to the challenges our state faces in 2016 and beyond. Two years ago we decided to come up with a real world solution to stem the flow of young people leaving the state by addressing some of the underlying causes of the exodus — a lack of career path jobs, student debt, and disengagement from the community. It is from that determination that Serve Here CT was launched.
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
Hospitals say state puts them between a rock and a hard place
As hospital officials describe it, state policy is pushing them in two opposing directions. Higher state taxes and funding cuts have added to the factors pushing independent community hospitals to join larger health systems, they say. But at the same time, legislators concerned about the growth of large health systems have been pushing for new restrictions on changes in hospital ownership, which hospital officials say makes it harder for them to adapt.