Connecticut was rated a top-ten state for first-time homebuyers in a new survey, a reflection of the assistance offered to people trying to buy their first home. The ranking was made by MSN Real Estate on the basis of a study by HSH.com, a publisher of mortgage and consumer loan information. “Not only does the state […]
CT rated a top-ten state for first-time home buyers
Posted inNews
Budget showdown could put Connecticut House delegation in a tight spot
Washington – It was easy for the members of Connecticut’s House delegation, all Democrats, to vote against a bill Thursday that would avert a government shutdown for a few months, but defund Obamacare. But their next vote on the budget won’t be as easy. That’s because the lawmakers may have to eventually decide whether to […]
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Esty makes renewable choices: Maine wind, CT sunshine
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Friday his administration is delivering on a promise to procure clean energy at competitive prices as it announced deals with developers of a new wind farm in Maine and a solar project in eastern Connecticut.
Posted inNews
Foley claims same standard as Woodward and Bernstein
Republican gubernatorial hopeful Tom Foley insisted Thursday that his reliance on unnamed sources to support accusations against Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration follows the traditional “journalistic standard.” But a past president of one of the nation’s oldest and largest journalists’ associations said the Greenwich businessman’s approach doesn’t appear to match the scrutiny professional reporters are […]
Posted inPolitics
Reporter who broke Blumenthal Vietnam story joins McMahon alum’s firm
Consider this a footnote to a tumultuous episode in the 2010 Senate race between Richard Blumenthal and Linda McMahon. Ray Hernandez, the New York Times reporter who broke the story about Blumenthal misstating his Vietnam-era service record, is joining the PR firm where McMahon’s top strategist that year, Ed Patru, is now a vice president. […]
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Keno — A shortsighted idea from smart people
Of all the last-minute pieces of legislation haggled over in secret, the move to legalize keno is among the most shortsighted. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, State Senate President Don Williams and Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey all agreed to tuck keno in the budget just before the legislative session ended in June to balance […]
Posted inNews
Keno — A shortsighted idea from smart people
Of all the last-minute pieces of legislation haggled over in secret, the move to legalize keno is among the most shortsighted. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, State Senate President Don Williams and Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey all agreed to tuck keno in the budget just before the legislative session ended in June to balance […]
Posted inNews
House Republicans vote to cut food stamp program, but Senate likely to rebuff
Washington — The Republican-led House voted to slash the food stamp program by $40 billion over the next 10 years, but that’s not the end of the story. The Senate, which had proposed a modest reduction in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the official name for food stamps, is expected to reject what the House […]
Posted inNews
CT lost 6,000 jobs in August; July gains smaller than reported
The state Labor Department threw some cold water Thursday on Connecticut’s optimistic job outlook. The department not only reported a 6,000-job decline in August, but scaled back the 11,500-job gain it announced in July by more than 16 percent. Despite the job losses, Connecticut’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in August at 8.1 percent. That’s because […]
Posted inNews
Jepsen takes aim at health care ‘facility fees’
Hospitals are increasingly acquiring medical practices, and for many patients, that’s meant new, often unanticipated charges known as facility fees. The practice has drawn scrutiny from the state healthcare advocate, and on Thursday, Attorney General George Jepsen announced that he would take aim at the fees too. He plans to seek legislation requiring medical offices […]
Posted inHealth
Obamacare insurance: What the standard gold, silver and bronze plans look like
Here’s a look at the deductibles, copays and coinsurance requirements for the standard plans that will be offered through Access Health CT, the state’s health insurance exchange.
Posted inNews
Nassi, top aide to Donovan, gets 28 months
New Haven – Joshua Nassi, once the top legislative and campaign aide to House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, was sentenced Thursday to 28 months in prison for conspiring to block tobacco tax legislation in return for $27,500 in contributions to his boss’s doomed congressional campaign. Nassi, 35, a lawyer who worked as a community activist […]
Posted inNews
CT’s multi-pronged approach to reducing recidivism is working
New Haven – After spending years chipping away at it, Connecticut has reduced its recidivism rate to 41 percent, down from 47 percent in 2007. “Six points is a significant drop and makes all the difference to their families,” said William Carbone, executive director of the Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division. The success gave […]
Posted inHealth
Obamacare is moving ahead in CT, but faces tougher time in other states
Washington — As the clock ticks toward implementation of the most important elements of the Affordable Care Act, its congressional opponents are making a last stand to derail the law. Other problems loom as well, even in states like Connecticut, that are eager to implement the law.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
I chipped my nail polish today and it’s all Obamacare’s fault or is it?
Nowadays there seems to be no limit on what Obamacare will be blamed for.