THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release                                                              December 19, 2012 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN A PRESS CONFERENCE   James S. Brady Press Briefing Room       12:02 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning, everybody.  It’s now been five days since the heartbreaking tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut; three days […]

Hospitals face the single-largest cut in the tentative plan crafted over the past week by the administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and legislative leaders from both parties. But they are hoping that some historical perspective will persuade officials to spare them from deep cuts. The chief lobbying agency for the state’s 29 acute care […]

Balancing the next state budget exclusively with spending cuts could be the final straw that breaks Connecticut’s economic back, pushing it back into recession, the University of Connecticut’s economic think-tank warned Wednesday. The Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis also said that such a move could trigger as many as 25,000 annual job losses between the […]

Washington — The gun lobby’s hold on Congress seems much less secure in the wake of the Newtown tragedy, although some staunch Second Amendment advocates are clearly hoping to stall an unavoidable national debate on gun control, perhaps in hope that the public’s passions will wane. “I think we need a dialogue on that,” said […]

Washington — The gun lobby’s hold on Congress seems much less secure in the wake of the Newtown tragedy, although some staunch Second Amendment advocates are clearly hoping to stall an unavoidable national debate on gun control, perhaps in hope that the public’s passions will wane. “I think we need a dialogue on that,” said […]

In a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., issued a veiled challenge to the National Rifle Association and other gun rights advocates who would oppose new efforts to tighten federal gun laws. “I will not be deterred by any organization or campaign that uses scare tactics,” Blumenthal said. The Connecticut Democrat […]

Washington — Lawmakers who spar over everything from environmental regulations to taxes came together Monday evening during a vigil on Capitol Hill for the victims of the Newtown massacre. Held in the ornate Senate Kennedy Caucus room and organized by the offices of Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., the vigil gave lawmakers, […]

The tragedy in Newtown became part of the deficit-mitigation debate late Monday as some legislators questioned suggested reductions to state agencies serving people with mental illnesses and those with developmental disabilities. And though no final decisions on legislation to address the deficit are expected before Wednesday’s special session, those who brought questions to the House […]

Washington — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, no friend to gun control, promised “in the coming days and weeks” to consider legislation that would tighten gun laws. “Part of the healing process will require Congress to examine what could be done to prevent more tragedies…,” said Reid, D-Nev. in a Monday speech of condolences to […]

Newtown — The sidewalk on this little street corner, just down the hill from Sandy Hook Elementary School, is so overrun with mementos that bystanders have been pushed onto the road. Mourners have left bouquets of roses, candles and posters with words of prayer — and the names of 27 victims. Children have tucked stuffed […]

State legislative leaders and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration have struck a tentative bipartisan deal to reduce the state budget deficit by cutting aid to hospitals, ending longevity bonuses to senior, non-union state workers and scaling back business tax credits, sources said Monday. The deal would order other cuts and launch new income tax fraud […]

State officials who toiled behind closed doors last week trying to close a shortfall in the current budget described it as a task like no other in recent history. And while they took comfort Friday afternoon that bipartisan commitment to a solution remained strong, they also conceded that the challenge, at times, has been painstakingly […]

Washington — If the White House and Republicans in Congress can come up with a deal to avoid a fiscal cliff, the vote for the compromise will be one of the toughest for members of the Connecticut delegation. Lawmakers will have to choose between the wishes of their constituents and loyalty to party leaders or […]