People who work in senior centers, town social service offices and senior housing complexes say the state Department of Social Services’ new system has led to elderly residents losing benefits, low-income clients having to pay out-of-pocket for medication, and more of their own time devoted to trying to fix problems caused by the new system.
DSS system woes burden CT’s senior centers, aging agencies
Posted inNews
At Connecticut’s intersection of policy and people
Mirror reporters attend hearings and other events, but rather than just relay what happened, they often use these as jumping off points to examine issues more deeply and from various perspectives. This week we ran a story by health reporter Arielle Levin Becker that was far more than just a report on a public hearing.
Posted inPolitics
Connecticut to accept some late gun registrations
The administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Friday it will accept late registrations of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, but only if public-safety officials have a “reasonable belief” the owners tried to meet the Jan. 1 deadline.
Posted inEducation
Top CT budget lawmaker: Where’s money for social workers?
The millions of dollars DCF has saved from decreasing the number of children living in group homes or being sent out-of-state are almost entirely funneled to other areas of the governor’s proposed budget.
Posted inPolitics
Snow, salt and just a dash of politics
One of the many consequences of Connecticut getting hit with 12 winter storms is that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy held a 20-minute press conference Friday on the cost, availability and general utility of Bahamian and Chilean rock salt.
Posted inHealth
Post-Newtown gun law has a mental health loophole, critics say
The controversial state law passed in response to the Newtown shootings included new and expanded restrictions on gun ownership by people hospitalized for psychiatric treatment. But the way the bill is written leaves some out.
Posted inPolitics
He’s the coy Malloy, in no hurry to declare
Every day he delays becoming a candidate for re-election, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy rewrites the Connecticut political calendar. M. Jodi Rell created a candidate committee on Oct. 13, 2005, and kicked off her 2006 campaign for governor the next day. In his third and final run, John G. Rowland created a candidate committee on Nov. 30, 2000, 23 months before the 2002 election.
Posted inNews
Malloy declares emergency, seeks aid for towns
With the state recovering from the 12th storm of the season, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy declared a state of emergency Thursday as a precursor to seeking federal aid for municipalities experiencing shortages of road salt. “I have asked our state emergency management personnel to reach out to our cities and towns tonight and get more […]
Posted inPolitics
Himes: ‘realistic’ about Democrats’ chances of taking House
Snowed in at a retreat on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, said he and other Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee officials are “realistic” about his party’s chances of taking back the House of Representatives in November’s elections. In a freewheeling, informal talk with reporters that lasted nearly a half-hour, Himes said DCCC Chairman […]
Posted inNews
Malloy orders nonessential state employees to stay home
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman and staff at the EOC. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ordered all nonessential state employees on the first and second shifts to stay home Thursday as Connecticut was expected to be hit with bands of snow, sleet and possibly freezing rain from a strengthening winter storm until Friday […]
Posted inEducation
Malloy’s Regents plan raises state support above pre-cut levels
“I am not talking about what happened in the past. I am talking about what needs to happen in the future,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Wednesday.
Posted inNews
CT House Dems (except Courtney) attend party retreat
Washington — Rep. Rosa DeLauro has a starring role and Rep. Joe Courtney is odd man out as House Democrats began their three-day annual retreat Wednesday. The retreat, in Cambridge, Md., the Eastern Shore town that was the site of the GOP retreat last month, will feature speeches by President Obama and Vice President Joe […]
Posted inHealth
Access Health website will be limited this weekend
“Substantial portions” of the website of Access Health CT, the state’s health insurance exchange, will be unavailable between 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 and 8 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18 because of system maintenance by federal agencies.
Posted inPolitics
Survey: CT House members not very liberal
A look at 2013 votes by the National Journal placed Jim Himes, D-4th District, as the 130th most liberal of the 432 sitting members of the House.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
No fracking in Connecticut, but what about its waste?
Despite having no gas or oil deposits, Connecticut has the potential to set the national standard in dealing with fracking waste. But doing so may put the state on a collision course with federal law, ultimately also making Connecticut the national legal test case.