Jon Brammer, an administrator at Three Rivers Community College, has written that it is time to dismantle the Board of Regents for Higher Education. I disagree. The Board of Regents has continually strived to be responsible and effective in its use of public funding, driving efficiencies in the system office, and reallocating as many dollars as possible to student services and instruction.
The Board of Regents makes CSCU more efficient, effective
Posted inEducation
For students with limited English, glaring gaps in achievement and state remedies
One of every 15 students in Connecticut’s public schools speaks and understands only limited English, and their academic achievement lags far behind that of their classmates. The achievement gap in Connecticut is among the highest in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Posted inFundraising
The Mirror’s “Why I Give” campaign begins
As a nonprofit news organization, we reach out and ask for your support three times a year, and with two months remaining in a contentious legislative session, now is one of those times. The Connecticut Mirror’s “Why I Give” campaign begins. We hope at least one thought resonates with you, enough to support our organization with a tax-deductible donation.
Posted inPolitics
Malloy stands down in gay rights fight with Indiana
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy rescinded his ban on state-funded travel to Indiana on Saturday in response to what he called that state’s positive step toward clarifying a religious freedom law many deemed discriminatory to gays and lesbians.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Malloy’s proposed transit development authority is bad news for Newington
In Newington, my lifelong home, there is increasing concern about Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposal establishing a statewide transit development authority and its intentions to oversee his ambitious transportation plan. This proposal is not a friend of Newington — or any other municipality with open space.
Posted inMoney, Politics
On the state spending cap, Malloy and GOP have checkered past
While Gov. Dannel P. Malloy portrayed the spending cap Thursday as an unavoidable constraint on the next state budget, governors and legislators from both parties have skirted that constraint repeatedly for a decade.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut is in trouble, but we can fix it
Connecticut is in trouble, but we can fix it if we work together. Here are some strategies for improving life in our state.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Tribal lenders claim right to charge 448% on loans in CT
An Oklahoma tribe and its allies are fighting a legal, advertising and social-media war in Connecticut, claiming a right as a sovereign government to make unlicensed short-term loans at astronomical interest rates in defiance of state usury laws.
Posted inNews
CT seeks $6.6 million from feds for towns hit by January blizzard
WASHINGTON – Towns in New Haven, New London, Tolland and Windham counties suffered at least $6.6 million in damages and costs from January’s devastating blizzard, a state emergency management official says.
Posted inHealth
Medicaid ob-gyn fee cuts worry doctors, advocates
The state’s Medicaid program is cutting payment rates for doctors who provide pregnancy care, perform deliveries and women’s preventive services, leading medical groups and advocates to worry that it could become harder for low-income pregnant women to find doctors to treat them.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy’s message: Forget raising taxes, restoring cuts
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy delivered a message Thursday aimed at dissuading legislators from trying to circumvent a spending cap that Malloy says is a barrier to raising taxes or significantly restoring cuts in his proposed budget for the next biennium.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Governor, let’s invest in, not harm, an education project that works
The work teachers do to teach good writing is more than just words to them and their students. That’s only part of the reason why state legislators should not let Gov. Dannel Malloy cut funding to summer and after-school programs like the Connecticut Writing Project at Fairfield University.
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
As legislators struggle with human services cuts, are tax hikes coming?
Besides living with a sense of panic and staying up at night worrying, Marina Derman has been in advocacy mode lately, trying to convince lawmakers to salvage the program she says saved her family from crisis. She’s one of many people waiting for a resolution to the next state budget. Many legislators have criticized the deep cuts to health care and social services in the governor’s proposed spending plan, but it’s not yet clear how they plan to address the looming $1.3 billion deficit while avoiding cuts some have called untenable.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Hospitals: Good for health, essential for a healthy Connecticut economy
Look beyond the caregiving role of Connecticut hospitals and you will find a promising means of strengthening our state’s economy. In addition to being good for the health of residents, Connecticut hospitals are good for the health of business as well, contributing $21.9 billion annually to the state and local economies.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Keep Connecticut businesses in mind during budget debate
Gov. Dannel Malloy’s recent $40 billion biennial budget proposal for the State of Connecticut contained some reasons for optimism for many in Connecticut. Cities and towns saw a small but unexpected increase in vital state aid, a proposed reduction in the state sales tax could bring some relief to every Connecticut resident and the unveiling […]