The Connecticut Mirror, the state’s award-winning, nonprofit public policy news organization, will hold its first statewide event, “Small State, Big Debate: Inequality,” on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at the University of Hartford.
The Connecticut Mirror announces ‘Small State, Big Debate: Inequality’ event
Posted inPolitics
A little Connecticut PAC that provoked a big response
Leadership Connecticut PAC, the Republican political action committee that drew fire from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy this week and attracted street-theater protests Thursday night outside a cigar bar in New Haven, is an obscure player that pumped a modest $10,500 into the state’s multi-million-dollar political economy during the 2012 election cycle.
Posted inPolitics
Sign of times: Metal detectors coming to Connecticut Capitol
Without a formal vote or public hearing, the Connecticut General Assembly’s four top leaders have approved the installation of metal detectors at the State Capitol complex, embracing an oft-rejected precaution now common at courthouses, congressional offices, federal buildings and many other public institutions.
Posted inMoney
Connecticut companies worry they’ll lose valuable R&D tax break
Washington – Corporations like Pfizer, United Technologies, Alexion and others spend millions on research each year, hoping to develop new products or processes that contribute to their bottom line.
Posted inPolitics
Blumenthal says Obama’s NSA reforms only first step
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who has introduced legislation to rein in NSA spying, said President Obama’s announced reforms of the agency are “stronger in principle than prescription.” While he praised the president for moving to address concerns abroad and at home about the NSA’s operations, Blumenthal said he would continue to press for approval of his legislation, saying Congress must “provide precision and details” to the president’s reforms.
Posted inEducation
U.S. Education Secretary heading to Hartford
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will be in Hartford on Tuesday at a Hartford Public School to talk about higher education. Duncan will be joined for the afternoon event by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and his education commissioner and U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy and Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra.
Posted inHealth
Sorry, you’re in jail: Access Health CT applicants wrongly considered incarcerated
Some people applying for coverage through the state’s health insurance exchange are coming upon a potentially upsetting glitch: The system informs them they’re incarcerated. The glitch has affected .5 percent to 1 percent of the exchange’s customers, said James Wadleigh, chief information officer for Access Health CT, the state’s exchange.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Maximum security is no place for traumatized girls
Across the country, states are closing or downsizing juvenile justice facilities. This has been happening during an unprecedented reduction in youth crime. Juvenile courts and state juvenile justice agencies are finding that they can protect the public and improve the lives of youth by using community resources more and relying less on institutions.
Posted inNews
Maximum security is no place for traumatized girls
Across the country, states are closing or downsizing juvenile justice facilities. This has been happening during an unprecedented reduction in youth crime. Juvenile courts and state juvenile justice agencies are finding that they can protect the public and improve the lives of youth by using community resources more and relying less on institutions.
Posted inNews
Blumenthal milks Senate support for dairy compromise
During the Senate debate Thursday on a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill, Sen. Richard Blumenthal used a glass of milk as a prop to try to bring attention to a new compromise that might end a deadlock over the dairy program that has stalled a massive farm bill. Blumenthal, D-Conn., said a deal has been cut to keep the current dairy subsidy program while phasing in a new program that would replace those subsides with an insurance plan.
Posted inHealth
80 percent of ConnectiCare customers paid; the rest get an extension
The deadline for ConnectiCare Benefits customers to pay their January premiums was Wednesday, but the company said Thursday that it will continue to accept payments through Jan. 20.
Posted inEducation
Gray, others, urged by Obama to find ways to boost college enrollments
With his education agenda stalled in Congress, President Obama on Thursday urged Gregory W. Gray, Connecticut’s President of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, and dozens of other university presidents to share each other’s methods of expanding access to higher education. “More than ever a college degree is the surest path to a stable middle class life,” Obama said at a White House conference on opening the door to college for more students, especially low-income youths.
Posted inPolitics
Nearly 3,000 used new same-day voter registration law in Connecticut
Connecticut’s first experience with election-day voter registration allowed 2,900 voters across the state to register and vote on election day last fall, high-profile mayoral races in New Haven and New Britain drawing the highest number of new voters.
Posted inEducation
Judge rejects state’s request to delay school funding trial
Hartford Superior Court Judge Kevin Dubay summarily rejected the state’s request Thursday for a lengthy postponement of an education-funding lawsuit over whether the state is meeting its constitutional responsibility of providing a “suitable education” for every child in Connecticut.
Posted inPolitics
Malloy’s executive order leads to raise in some day-care wages
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced an agreement Thursday that will provide the first general wage increase in a dozen years for family child care providers under Connectiut Care 4 Kids for program, a deal he helped set in motion with an controversial executive order enabling union representation of the providers. The agreement, which provides for rate increases of three percent over four years, is subject to approval by the union, CSEA/SEIU Local 2001, and a vote of the General Assembly.