One of Connecticut’s largest public employee unions is trying to rally support in the waning days of the General Assembly session for a study of whether state government should offer a retirement plan to private citizens. But one of the key lawmakers behind the proposal conceded late last week that the chances of passage this […]
Union tries to rally support for study on state-run retirement savings plan
Posted inNews
Looks like an onion skin, but it could be electricity
Sergio Squatrito knows all about food waste. At Carla’s Pasta, his family’s company in South Windsor, in addition to an array of easy-to-prepare pasta and other Italian specialties, the company produces 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of food waste a day. “We’ve tried four different ways of getting rid of our food scraps and all of […]
Posted inEducation
Your child’s school and the use of physical restraints and seclusion…
As legislators consider a bill that would require school officials to report and justify every time they physically restrain a student or place a child in seclusion, the U.S. Department of Education has some interesting data on the prevalence of these practices district-by-district and school-by-school. With 904 incidents in 2009, Waterbury puts more students into […]
Posted inMoney
Nanny state, or common sense?
On the “go list” of items cleared for action today by the state House of Representatives are things on some folks’ weekend to-do list. Are they further evidence of a “nanny state,” or overdue safety measures that you may have thought were already on the books? Been meaning to install a smoke detector or carbon […]
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If it’s an election year, then S.B.1 is about jobs
On a bipartisan vote, the state Senate approved a highly promoted economic-development bill Friday, legislation designated by the Democratic majority leadership as Senate Bill 1 to signal job creation as a political priority in 2012. But action on the bill comes as the Senate wrestles with whether to pass or ignore the off-message priority of […]
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Education reforms turn on politics, policy and labor law
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Senate Democrats remained at odds Friday over the union rights of teachers in the troubled schools that are at the heart of Malloy’s education reforms, with legislators questioning if some of the proposed reforms run afoul of labor laws. Malloy said he supports a continued role for unions at the […]
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Proposed aid for left-leaning center sparks bond dispute
A proposal to give more than $300,000 in state assistance to a New Haven community center with ties to the Communist Party was pulled abruptly off the State Bond Commission agenda Friday. And while Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, whose budget office sets the agenda, insisted the item was tabled only because the New Haven People’s […]
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Caring, long term: A way of life for 1 in 8 Connecticut residents
Part I: Mimi Her father’s stroke came as a shock to Mimi Galusha. So did what came next. “Life as I know it was totally changed,” she said. For years, Galusha’s dad had taken care of her mother, who has Parkinson’s disease. Galusha helped out, too. But she had her own job, as a school […]
Posted inHealth, Money
As DSS seeks public comment, advocates critique proposal for “dual eligibles”
The Department of Social Services is seeking public comments on an application to run a federal demonstration program aimed at saving money while improving the health of a small group of Medicaid clients whose care represents a significant portion of the program’s expenses. But there’s still disagreement between the department and many members of the […]
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Registrars, rejoice!
The Senate today passed a bill that registrars wished was law Tuesday, during the GOP presidential primary. It gives cities and towns the flexibility to reduce the number of polling places. State law prohibited registrars from consolidating polling places this week, even knowing that turnout for the uncontested primary was going to be dismal. The […]
Posted inHealth, Money
Senate passes medical malpractice compromise
The Senate on Friday approved a compromise bill aimed at loosening the requirements for bringing a medical malpractice lawsuit, a controversial issue that has sharply divided health care providers and plaintiff attorneys. The bill, which now goes to the House, would alter a 2005 tort reform law that requires anyone who files a medical malpractice […]
Posted inEducation, Politics
Courtney, other Connecticut Democrats, slam GOP on student loan vote
Washington — Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, has for months been trying to win approval for a bill that would avoid a doubling of the interest rate on a popular, federally subsidized student loan. But when the House finally approved legislation Friday that would prevent interest rates on Stafford loans from doubling to 6.8 percent […]
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An advocate tries to become a legislator
John Murphy is making it official Saturday. Long a behind-the-scenes campaign organizer and lobbyist for progressive and union causes, Murphy is declaring his candidacy for the 8th House District seat held by Republican Tim Ackert of Coventry. Murphy now splits his time between the Connecticut Citizen Action Group and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. […]
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House passes Sunday liquor sales
The state House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill Thursday legalizing liquor sales on Sundays and holidays starting July 1 and modestly easing liquor price controls — though far less than proposed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. The measure, which passed 116-27 and now heads to the Senate, creates a new task force to study […]