Washington — West Hartford-based Colt Defense LLC has lost an $84 million Army contract to a competitor and, like an increasing number of federal contractors, it’s not taking rejection sitting down. In awarding the lucrative contract for 70,000 to 100,000 rifles, the Army Contracting Command preferred the bid of Remington in Ilion, N.Y. That prompted […]
As part of a trend, Colt protesting loss of $84 million Army contract
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In an upset, it’s docs over lawyers, 74-69
You don’t see this every day: The speaker, majority leader and minority leader all on the losing side of a 74-69 vote in the state House of Representatives. On a bipartisan vote, the House on Thursday gutted a bill aimed at loosening the requirements for bringing a medical malpractice lawsuit, an issue that has sharply divided […]
Posted inEducation
The cost of charter schools
A new report has found that Achievement First’s New York charter schools spend $660 more per pupil than nearby traditional city public schools that serve similiar populations. Officials of Achievement First, which has several Connecticut charter schools and makes up almost half of the state’s charter seats, has been complaining for years that they are […]
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McMahon continues to self-fund campaign
Linda McMahon, a Republican candidate for retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman’s seat, poured another $600,000 of her own money into her campaign this week, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. McMahon, who aired the first television commercial in the Senate race this week, had loaned her campaign nearly $4 million as of March 31. […]
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A chilly Malloy-Bysiewicz encounter on Polish Day
At a Polish Day observance, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy bent low today to greet a seated Mary Heslin, a member of the administration of Gov. William A. O’Neill in the 1980s. He didn’t quite make the same effort with Susan Bysiewicz. Malloy and Bysiewicz were together — more or less — for the first time […]
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Privacy dominates debate on health care database
After a lengthy debate centered on patient privacy, the House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a proposal to develop a statewide database of medical, dental and pharmacy claims information aimed at getting a comprehensive view of health care usage, cost and quality. The measure, which now goes to the Senate, passed largely along party lines, […]
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Some foster children to get regular visits with siblings
When state officials removed Alixes Rosado from his home in Hartford as a child, his first question wasn’t about why he would no longer see his mother. He wanted to know when he would get to see his brothers and sister again. The answer, as he would soon spend the next 11 years of his […]
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Governor’s initiatives not immune as deficits loom larger
Though Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is trying to see the fiscal glass as half full, key legislators tied to budget talks conceded this week that many of Malloy’s top initiatives may have to be scaled back, delayed, or cut altogether. Though three fiscal offices confirmed a $200 million deficit in the current $20.1 billion budget […]
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New budget figures make agreement on Medicaid changes likely
Key Democratic lawmakers have bristled at the governor’s proposal to scale back a Medicaid program that serves some of the poorest adults in Connecticut. But in light of new budget figures released this week showing that the state has a nearly $200 million budget deficit, some said they’re willing to consider changes. “We’ll probably have […]
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Is state stuck with No Child Left Behind if Malloy fails?
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy As Gov. Dannel P. Malloy attempts to push his controversial education reforms through the legislature, he’s taking up a new talking point: Failure means the state’s chances of being relieved from the dictates of the federal No Child Left Behind law are at risk. “These are obligations which I doubt we’ll […]
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State could become the first to require recycling of mattresses
Legislation that would make Connecticut the first state to mandate the recycling of used mattresses passed the Senate on Wednesday afternoon and is now headed for action in the House. The bill uses an environmental model called extended producer responsibility, EPR, a principle of the broader concept of product stewardship, in which producers take responsibility […]
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Himes has strong challengers, but still favored
Washington –– How political winds can change. Two years ago, Jim Himes, D-4th District, was on CNN’s Top Hundred list of vulnerable House members, targeted by the Republican national party and given even odds by political pundits of keeping his seat. The Fairfield County-based district is home to more Republicans than any other congressional district […]
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Harris is leaving as Nappier’s deputy
State Treasurer Denise Nappier’s first deputy treasurer lasted nearly 12 years. The second one, not quite 14 months. Jonathan Harris, 48, a former state senator from West Hartford, is resigning as deputy state treasurer, effective May 17. “I’m leaving to pursue other opportunities,” Harris said. No word on a successor.
Posted inPolitics
Maybe I don’t care if you pulled yourself up by your bootstraps
This Boston Globe column (which made today’s Atlantic Wire) sort of lets you make of it what you will. But Jeff Jacoby’s point that all politicians have to do is to stress a Horatio Alger narrative in order to wow voters — how they live their lives is less important — is a pretty good […]
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GOP: Malloy’s deficit fix won’t play on Wall Street
Republican legislative leaders say that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s plan to divert the state’s long-term debt payments to close the swelling current budget deficit won’t play on Wall Street. Why? Because just two months ago the state cited its efforts to pay down its debt as evidence that it was getting its fiscal house in […]